By Aiman Ali

An imperishable fear and chaos has permeated all over the financial and industrial hub of Karachi. Traders and shopkeepers are afraid of establishing their business due to ever increasing extortion mafia in Karachi.

These businessmen are helpless and at the mercy of bhatta mafia being threatened every day to pay the bhatta or amount of money as demanded or they will be killed. The minimum a shopkeeper has to pay on average is around Rs25, 000 – an amount which often increases as per the income.

This illicit practice has been prevailing with such audacity as no one is there to punish them or stop them from this illegal business. What a sad plight it is that these extortionists are even aided by our so called lawmen.

This bhatta collection has become a money making business of political parties, police, law enforcing agencies, administrative govt. organizations, religious parties, journalists, media people etc. Everyone has their own way of abducting innocent businessmen making it legal and civilized in the eyes of law.

No one is there to hold their reigns. The unprotected victimized businessmen have the only choice to whether continue with their business under the demanded conditions or to quit their means of earning.

It is the desire of every shopkeeper in Karachi to get rid of such evil criminals and to work freely without terror and to save and spend  all the money they earn with their hard work and back breaking efforts of day and night.