idnappings for ransom and extortion are once again haunting the residents of Karachi. Criminals have found ways to operate remotely and this is posing a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies.

A majority of the victims, approximately 70 per cent, belong to the middle and the affluent classes. They are whisked away from markets, roads, their homes and offices and are kept hostages for days and weeks, sometimes months.

According to Kalim Imam, a former IGP of Islamabad and Sindh, the police often lack the skills necessary to handle complex kidnapping cases. This leads to a trust deficit between the law enforcement agencies and the public. The critical difference between the occurrence and reporting of crimes across Pakistan and in Karachi, can be attributed to this trust deficit. Notions of corruption, complicity and incompetence in the law enforcement and judiciary structure have resulted in a decline in public confidence.

The Citizen-Police Liaison Committee is a diverse, voluntary body comprising prominent citizens, retired judges, military personnel, government officials, business leaders, women and minority representatives. Working in tandem with law enforcement agencies, the CPLC aims to bridge the gap between the police and the community, leveraging collective expertise and community engagement.

“There used to be 150 cases of kidnapping for ransom per year in Karachi in 2012-2014. However, after the Army-Rangers-led operation during 2013-2016, the number dropped to 20-25 cases per year,” says Shabbar Malik, the deputy chief of operations at the CPLC.

According to former IGP Imam, in 2022, 81 cases involving 54 victims were reported. As many as 141 suspects were arrested that year.

So far, 2024 has witnessed a declining trend. The CPLC believes 12 people including four children have been kidnapped since January. “Except for one child, all the victims have safely returned to their families,” says Malik. “The lone child who could not be recovered was tragically killed by his captors.”

Ubaid, 12, was kidnapped from Mominabad in May and subsequently killed by his sister’s fiancé. The child’s mother, who had worked in Dubai had returned with Rs 2 million only about a month ago for their wedding. The fiancé eyed the money.

He and two accomplices kidnapped Ubaid and demanded a Rs 1.5 million ransom. They took the boy for a motorcycle ride and drugged a drink they gave him to make him unconscious. “ Ubaid he pleaded with them to spare his life. Unmoved, they went ahead and throttled him. Unsure if he had died they battered his head with a brick, put the body in a sack and dumped it.”

It was painful watching the unsuspecting mother and sister suffer the ordeal of the missing child while the culprit stood by and showed false concern.

The CPLC and Anti Violent Crime Cell led by SP Anil suspected foul play. Following a quick interrogation, the principal suspect confessed to the despicable crime. Ubaid’s mother and his sister were shocked by his confession. They had never suspected him.

“I had worked hard in Dubai to earn the money for their marriage. It was meant for the couple. But he killed my son,” says the heartbroken mother.

Ransom calls from overseas, including locations in Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan have figured prominently in these crimes. With the proliferation of audio and video apps like Imo and WhatsApp and the easy availability of SIMSs, criminals have more options today than before.

Extortion by organised crime syndicates has made a menacing comeback in Karachi, posing a significant threat to the business community.

Sometimes the person helping the criminals is close to the victim’s family. It can be a household servant, a trusted friend or a business partner. Some criminal gangs followed up on a tip-off with a detailed survey of the victim and their family.

Once the hostage is taken captive, they employ emotional manipulation, physical intimidation and abusive behaviour to pressure the hostage and their family.

Unlike the early 1990s, kidnapping for ransom is now a high-tech crime.

One such incident involved a businessman, Haris Rehman. He was kidnapped by a gang from Gadap in December 2023. He was kept chained in a shanty town near Ibrahim Hyderi.

According to Malik, the CCTV footage of the premises from where Rehman was kidnapped showed that a rented car had been used in the crime. The Intelligence Bureau intercepted the ransom call from Afghanistan.

Initially, the kidnappers demanded Rs 100 million for Rehman’s release. The mastermind operated from Keamari and was subsequently identified as Sadiq alias Qari alias Bilal.

“We managed to arrest, Abid Muchar, who had provided the weapons and the car. He provided us valuable clues,” says Malik.

Meanwhile, the ransom demand was lowered to Rs 8.8 million. The criminals also sent the family a lobe from one of Haris’s ears.

“From that point on, the risk was too great to allow a delay,” says Malik. “Soon afterwards, the ransom was paid. Haris returned home to his family in January 2024 after almost a fortnight.”

“During his ordeal, Haris had been taken to a house wrapped in a burqa. He was accompanied by the kidnappers and a goat. The neighbours thought they were a family. Haris was kept in an underground water tank,” he says.

Later, the police learnt that Rs 4.4 million out of the ransom amount was used for terror financing by Sadiq. Four of his accomplices including Abid Muchar are in now in jail.

Last month Sadiq returned to Karachi and contacted Haris’s brother using WhatsApp through an Afghan number. He also reactivated his network to prepare for another kidnapping. SSP Keamari Capt Faizan Ali says, “The call was traced. A police team raided the hideout in Saeedabad on Hub River Road. After a gunfight, Sadiq was killed on June 9.”

Malik says, “Builders are the latest trend in victims. The current wave of kidnappings is led primarily by the remnants of the feared Lyari Gang War groups. “As of now, five of the gangs are known to have been involved in 57 reported cases,” he says.

Some of the gang leaders operate from Iran. Their thugs use firing in the air to intimidate the construction workers. Others send footage of the under-development projects and the movement of family members to the builder and demand their ransom. The demands range from Rs 200,000 to Rs 2 million.

“Sitting smug, some of them even give their names. Interpol has been asked to issue Red Warrants for those in Iran. The process is under way,” says a CPLC official.

Recently, a gang involved in at least eight kidnappings was busted. The gang used to make threatening calls from a Malaysian phone number to builders in District Central. “This gang had five members who have been arrested,” says Malik.

Extortion by organised crime syndicates has made a menacing comeback in Karachi. It poses a significant threat to the business community. Although the situation has not reached catastrophic levels, it warrants immediate attention.

The writer is a senior staffer at The News