Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar on Friday announced that a web portal is being developed to facilitate traders to register their complaints regarding extortion and other crimes in Karachi.
Earlier this week, Sindh Inspector General of Police (IG) Ghulam Nabi Memon promised to provide full protection to economic and commercial activities in collaboration with traders across the province.
“All complaints lodged through this portal will be addressed promptly and police action will be taken immediately to ensure redressal,” Lanjar said at a press conference at Karachi Police Office.
Flanked by IG Memon and Karachi additional IG Javed Alam Odho, Lanjar said that any complaint related to extortion notes or threats sent through the new web portal will lead to immediate registration of a first information report (FIR), and all legal action will be ensured against those involved.
Further, IG Odho said the initiative is being taken in the light of traders reporting “inconveniences” in visiting police stations to lodge an FIR.
“Protecting the business community and providing them with a safe and free business environment are among the top priorities of the Sindh government,” Lanjar said.
He added that extortion has become an issue of great concern in recent times and emphasized that since Karachi is the economic hub of Pakistan, the government’s top priority is to provide a peaceful environment for the business community and all traders, ensuring safe and free business activities at all levels.
“Though much importance has been given to the issue of extortion, both the SIU/CIA (Special Investigation Unit/Crime Investigation Agency) and the district police are fully committed to eradicating this crime and have been carrying out effective and coordinated operations,” the Home Minister said.
“Currently, Wasiullah Lakho and Samad Kathiawari are operating extortion gangs from Iran,” he added. “For their arrest, a formal request for red warrants has been sent and the Sindh government will also seek assistance from the federal home minister to help ensure the arrest of these criminals involved in such heinous acts.”
The Home Minister stated that extortion in a city like Karachi is a very serious and sensitive matter and the provincial government has always been committed to providing a business-friendly environment to promote economic activity. However, he stressed that public cooperation is crucial to stop extortion.
Lanjar noted that the SIU/CIA and the district police have carried out operations in which four extortionists were killed.
“The threats were linked to the Lakho group and Samad Kathiawari, and the government will never allow any criminal group or element to openly distribute extortion sheets or intimidate citizens,” he vowed.
Furthermore, IG Odho added that police arrested 20 suspected extortionists in two weeks. He said there will be no cases of extortion in the city and recalled that the police have also controlled targeted killings in the metropolis.
On Wednesday, a police crime data report showed that 118 incidents of extortion were reported in Karachi so far this year, of which only 44 were genuine extortion cases, while the remaining 74 concerned personal and business disputes. A police statement added that of the 44 cases, 39 were “solved”, a success rate of 87 per cent.
Furthermore, compared to last year, there has been a “significant” reduction in street crimes during the current year. In 2024, 252 incidents of street crime were reported daily, but this year, only 167 incidents have been reported, a decrease of 52 percent.
According to a crime statistics report seen by sunrise.comonly six people died in September 2025, compared to 13 in January 2024.
