Mufti Rahim concerned over deteriorating security situation in Karachi

KARACHI: Religious scholar Mufti Abdur Rahim has warned that Pakistan faces both external enemies and internal threats, alleging that hostile foreign countries are behind the extortion and land grabbing plaguing Karachi.

Speaking at an event held at ABAD House, the Patron of Jamia Al-Rasheed and Chancellor of Al-Ghazali University expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in Pakistan’s commercial capital.

“ABAD is a major institution whose thousands of members maintain construction activities across the country,” Mufti Abdur Rahim said. “Damaging institutions like ABAD is equivalent to harming Pakistan itself.”

Muhammad Hassan Bakhsh, Chairman of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), revealed that extortion calls are being received from phone numbers in Nigeria, Iran, and Dubai. He disclosed that red warrants have been issued for two individuals, with hopes that warrants for remaining suspects will also be issued soon.

“Land grabbers and extortionists have paralyzed Karachi, Pakistan’s economic hub,” Bakhsh said.

The ABAD chairman said that land grabbing being done under the patronage of relevant government departments. “Fighting with an individual is easy, but confronting institutions is difficult,” he added.

Mufti Abdur Rahim emphasized that approximately 65 percent of revenue generated from Karachi goes to the entire country, making the city’s stability crucial for national prosperity.

“Builders and traders should increase their security and never be intimidated by extortionists. Leaving the country is not the solution to problems.”

Senior Vice Chairman Syed Afzal Hameed vowed that ABAD would neither be blackmailed by extortionists and land grabbing mafia, nor would they move their investments abroad. “We will deal with the cancer of extortion using all legal means,” he maintained.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025