In a highlevel meeting with builders and developers, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has declared a zerotolerance policy against extortion and land grabbing, vowing to pursue criminals operating from abroad with the assistance of the federal government.
The chief minister convened the meeting on Thursday with a delegation from the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), led by Hassan Bakshi, following a press conference held by the association a day earlier. Mr Shah expressed that the matter should have been brought to his attention directly rather than being raised in the media.
During the session, the ABAD representatives presented copies of extortion slips, or “parchis,” and supplied telephone numbers of individuals allegedly making demands from foreign countries. They provided a detailed account of the challenges confronting their members.
In response, the police briefed the delegation on the progress of approximately 10 extortion cases that have emerged over the past year. Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar reported that an extensive operation has resulted in the arrest of 50 extortionists, while six other criminals were killed in police encounters.
The Inspector General of Police further informed the attendees that three individuals connected to an extortionist orchestrating demands from overseas had already been apprehended based on a complaint from ABAD.
CM Shah issued unambiguous directives for law enforcement to act swiftly on every complaint lodged by the builders” association. He reiterated his commitment to eliminating the menace, stating, “We had earlier eliminated extortionists from this city, and we will once again bring them to justice.”
The discussion also addressed the issue of illegal land occupation. “Under no circumstances can encroachment on land be permitted,” the chief minister asserted, confirming that clear instructions had been dispatched to divisional and district administrations to prevent such activities.
The ABAD delegation acknowledged that the chief minister’s previous firm actions had successfully halted any new encroachments on their properties. A consensus was reached for the government and the builders to collaborate on removing older, existing encroachments.
The meeting concluded with the ABAD delegation expressing gratitude for the chief minister”s personal intervention, stating that the government”s decisive measures would help restore investor confidence in Karachi”s construction sector.
To further improve collaboration, the chief minister announced his intention to visit the ABAD office to meet with all members and strengthen coordination, aiming to eliminate any communication gaps. Attendees at the meeting included senior government and city officials such as Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah.