PESHAWAR: Police claimed to have devised a strategy to trace and arrest the people making threatening telephone calls to traders to seek extortion from them.

“We are working secretary against the groups involved in extortion and terrorism. It is hoped that many anti-state groups will be soon be arrested,” Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ijaz Khan said during a meeting with representatives of business community.

The traders voiced concerns over rising number of extortion calls.

The CCPO said that a strategy was devised to bring to book the people involved in extortion and other similar crimes even if they were living abroad, according to a statement issued by office of Adviser to Chief Minister on Home Babar Saleem Swati here on Saturday.

The meeting, held on the directives of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, was also attended by MPAs Malik Wajid and Arbab Wasim, Peshawar SSP, officials of home department and representatives of different organisations of traders.

The CCPO informed the meeting that police and other law enforcement agencies were taking action against the anti-state elements.

Speaking on the occasion, Babar Saleem Swati said that police and the government were taking serious steps regarding extortions calls. He added that protection of traders and resolving their issues were top priorities of the provincial government.

“The counter-terrorism department has been equipped with state-of-the-art devices and funds have been released to it at central and divisional levels,” he told the meeting.

Officials attending the meeting informed the traders that online complaints could be lodged through the website of home department. They said that citizens could file online complaints related to extortion calls on the website.

Mr Swati told the participants of the meeting security cameras would be installed in Phase-1 of Hayatabad. “The provincial government is committed to providing a peaceful environment to the business community,” he added.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2022