A Swat-based businessman who has been involved in the hotel and transport business for the last two decades was allegedly extorted by members of the banned militant outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) into paying them a sum of Rs 5 lacs.
The man received a phone call from an anonymous number inquiring about the health and well-being of his wife and children. When the businessman asked who was calling, the person said he was a member of the TTP, and asked if the businessman would like to contribute to their cause by donating Rs 5 lacs, at which the businessman said he did not have that kind of money.
The alleged TTP member then told him that the organization knew exactly how many hotels and cars he owned, and that the man should pay up if he is wise, after which he hung up. Then businessman kept his phone powered off for three days, but when he turned it on, he once again got a call from an unknown number.
When he answered, the voice on the other end said aggressively, "Do you not understand simple language?" This time the caller disclosed to the businessman that he knew exactly what he had been doing for the past three days and listed his exact routine for the three days his phone was off. He threatened the businessman and said that if he did not pay the money, his family would be weeping at his funeral. The businessman approached a friend of his for advice, who told him that he shouldn't contact the police or else he would be complicating matters for himself. Scared, the businessman had no choice but to comply.
According to a spokesperson of the Swat Traders Association who has requested to remain anonymous, has confirmed to Naya Daur media that in the last few years, many traders in the region have been forced to pay extortion money to the TTP.
The anonymous source said that many complaints were made to law enforcement agencies, but they dismissed it by claiming that it was just mischief-makers looking to make some trouble, and that it had nothing to do with the extremist agencies. However, the source continued, the police didn't even investigate the matter any further, and the mischief-makers were never arrested.
"Our suspicion turned out to be correct, that these people [TTP] were present in Swat valley, but since security agencies never took us seriously, we had to take over that responsibility too," he said.
Yesterday it was reported that the TTP had taken a DSP police officer, an army officer and a soldier hostage. The three were only released after negotiations were made with the Jirga, and the police officer was also shot in the leg. He is currently seeking treatment at CMH Rawalpindi.
Journalist Saleem Safi commented that it is a fact that the Taliban have returned to Swat and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. "Although the number of the militants is not a lot, the threat is still there, and this is why KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has not visited Swat in over a month," he said.
The man received a phone call from an anonymous number inquiring about the health and well-being of his wife and children. When the businessman asked who was calling, the person said he was a member of the TTP, and asked if the businessman would like to contribute to their cause by donating Rs 5 lacs, at which the businessman said he did not have that kind of money.
The alleged TTP member then told him that the organization knew exactly how many hotels and cars he owned, and that the man should pay up if he is wise, after which he hung up. Then businessman kept his phone powered off for three days, but when he turned it on, he once again got a call from an unknown number.
When he answered, the voice on the other end said aggressively, "Do you not understand simple language?" This time the caller disclosed to the businessman that he knew exactly what he had been doing for the past three days and listed his exact routine for the three days his phone was off. He threatened the businessman and said that if he did not pay the money, his family would be weeping at his funeral. The businessman approached a friend of his for advice, who told him that he shouldn't contact the police or else he would be complicating matters for himself. Scared, the businessman had no choice but to comply.
According to a spokesperson of the Swat Traders Association who has requested to remain anonymous, has confirmed to Naya Daur media that in the last few years, many traders in the region have been forced to pay extortion money to the TTP.
The anonymous source said that many complaints were made to law enforcement agencies, but they dismissed it by claiming that it was just mischief-makers looking to make some trouble, and that it had nothing to do with the extremist agencies. However, the source continued, the police didn't even investigate the matter any further, and the mischief-makers were never arrested.
"Our suspicion turned out to be correct, that these people [TTP] were present in Swat valley, but since security agencies never took us seriously, we had to take over that responsibility too," he said.
Yesterday it was reported that the TTP had taken a DSP police officer, an army officer and a soldier hostage. The three were only released after negotiations were made with the Jirga, and the police officer was also shot in the leg. He is currently seeking treatment at CMH Rawalpindi.
Journalist Saleem Safi commented that it is a fact that the Taliban have returned to Swat and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. "Although the number of the militants is not a lot, the threat is still there, and this is why KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has not visited Swat in over a month," he said.