Gang impersonating SHCC officials to extort money from quacks unearthed

A criminal gang of six individuals impersonating Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) officials to extort large sums of money from unlicensed medical practitioners has been exposed, the commission revealed on Thursday.

According to Dr Ahson Qavi, chief executive officer (CEO) of the SHCC, the group had been operating across multiple districts, collecting monthly payments from quacks under the false pretense of official inspections.

“Three of the extortionists are quacks themselves. One is a former SHCC employee dismissed last year, and another is currently serving in the office of a district health officer,” Dr Qavi disclosed.

He added that the gang’s activities were not only illegal but also severely damaging the credibility of the SHCC. “They are using our name to terrorise unregistered practitioners and extort millions. This is a serious issue, and we are taking firm action,” he stated.

To alert the public and medical community, the SHCC has published the names and photographs of the alleged extortionists in five major newspapers. The commission has also compiled detailed evidence of the racket, including videos, payment records and witness testimonies.

SHCC spokesperson Mustafa Jatoi confirmed that the extortion network had been targeting quacks systematically in various districts. “We have full documentation of their collections and locations. These individuals are not our employees and have no affiliation with SHCC,” he said, emphasising that the commission completely disowned them.

Jatoi further alleged that the gang had connections with influential figures in multiple government departments, which may have helped them evade scrutiny. He noted that the SHCC had initiated internal checks and urged the authorities to take legal action.

Amid reports of collusion between SHCC staff and district health officials in some areas, the commission has moved to strengthen its internal verification processes. Dr Qavi advised the public to verify any person claiming to be from the SHCC.

“Our legitimate employees carry official ID cards embedded with barcodes. Anyone approached by someone claiming to be from SHCC should scan the code to verify their identity,” he explained.