Meanwhile, builders and others involved in construction and real estate have warned that extortionists have gone from being a violent but relatively uncommon nuisance to a brazen, institutionalised system, with ransom demands regularly exceeding Rs50 million, and gangs operating at an international scale.
Recent police actions, such as the joint Rangers and SIU operation arresting suspects linked to major extortion mafias, show the problem’s scale and the state’s capability to act. However, these tactical victories are meaningless in the face of systemic rot.
The gangs’ audacity is also staggering. Ransom notes come complete with their names and bank details, yet gang law enforcement cannot put together enough evidence to arrange for the extradition of gang leaders operating out of the Middle East. Meanwhile, when suspects are arrested, ill-tempered and sadistic law enforcers end up trampling any chance of justice. The recent case of an assistant superintendent at Karachi Central Jail who was removed and booked for torture, illegal detention and extortion is a glaring example of criminal cops.
Professional policing must be accompanied by political will – and if those coming forward are to be believed, a political cleanup. It is not enough to go after street-level criminals. As long as the kingpins and their powerful allies are in place, the system will continue to survive, albeit with minor hiccups. Karachi cannot return to being a functional metropolis until the government breaks the nexus between crime, commerce and compromised officials.