CM Sindh orders zero tolerance against land grabbing, extortion after ABAD complaints
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday assured the construction and development sector of strict action against land grabbing and extortion, pledging a zero-tolerance policy as concerns mount over rising threats to businesses in Karachi.
The assurance came during a meeting at the Chief Minister House with a delegation of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), following a press conference by the association a day earlier that highlighted what it described as unchecked extortion and harassment of builders, developers and traders in Pakistan’s largest city. According to ARY News, the meeting was attended by the Sindh home minister, the mayor of Karachi, the chief secretary, the inspector general of police and other senior officials.
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Led by ABAD Chairman Muhammad Hassan Bakhshi, the delegation presented extortion slips, phone numbers allegedly used by criminal networks and a briefing on the challenges faced by the construction sector. Shah told participants that he had personally reviewed the complaints raised publicly by ABAD and said clear instructions had been issued to law enforcement and administrative authorities to act decisively.
“Land grabbing will not be tolerated under any circumstances in Karachi,” the chief minister said, according to officials present at the meeting. He added that the provincial government had adopted a policy of zero tolerance against encroachments and that immediate action would be taken on verified complaints of extortion.
ABAD representatives told the meeting that earlier police action against land grabbers had shown results, noting that no new illegal occupations had been reported in recent months. Both sides agreed on developing a joint strategy involving the provincial government, police and the builders’ body to permanently curb land grabbing and protect ongoing development projects across the city.
The chief minister also directed that formal requests regarding extortion threats be routed through the Sindh home department to ensure swift response. He asked ABAD to provide details in cases involving killings or serious violence, stressing that such incidents would be treated as priority cases. Police officials presented a progress report on 10 extortion cases identified by ABAD over the past year.
The meeting followed an unusually stark warning from ABAD earlier this week. Speaking at a press conference at ABAD House, Chairman Bakhshi said that over the past five months at least 10 of the association’s members had received extortion demands amounting to around Rs50 million, with calls allegedly originating from phone numbers based in Iran and Dubai.
“These extortionists issue written slips containing their names, phone numbers and even bank account details,” Bakhshi said at the press conference, flanked by former ABAD chairman Mohsin Sheikhani and other office-bearers. “If the demand is refused, firing begins. Yet action has been slow.”
ABAD leaders also named several individuals they alleged were involved in the extortion network and claimed that despite dozens of registered cases against some suspects, arrests had not translated into lasting relief. They further accused some officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) of harassment, alleging raids on construction firms, prolonged seizure of records and demands for bribes.
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The business community has warned that the deteriorating law-and-order situation is already affecting investor confidence in Karachi, which accounts for a significant share of Pakistan’s tax revenue and industrial output. Trader leaders echoed the builders’ concerns, saying extortion demands had spread to major commercial areas, including wholesale markets.
Addressing these concerns, the Sindh home minister informed the meeting that around 50 extortionists had been arrested and sent to jail so far, while the inspector general of police said targeted operations were continuing. He added that similar coordination meetings with ABAD had been held in the past and would continue.
Shah also acknowledged that some extortionists were believed to be operating from outside Sindh. He said the provincial government would raise the issue with the federal authorities to seek assistance in arresting suspects beyond the province’s jurisdiction.
Analysts say the government’s response will be closely watched by investors and developers, particularly as Karachi’s construction sector plays a central role in employment generation and urban development. Any sustained disruption, they warn, could have knock-on effects for allied industries and tax collection.
The chief minister concluded the meeting by reiterating that the Sindh government would work collectively with law enforcement and the business community to improve security and create a more predictable environment for investment. In the coming weeks, officials are expected to review progress on pending cases and coordinate with federal agencies, a step that ABAD leaders say will be critical in determining whether confidence can be restored or further protest action follows.
