Extortion calls from Afghanistan: KP Police want cell phones blocked

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have asked for at least blocking the cell phones being used for extortion calls to the locals from Afghanistan if no other action can be taken across the border, a source said.

"We have sent a number of letters to the federal government to take up the issue of extortion calls from Afghanistan with the Afghan authorities. If no other action can be taken against the callers and their hideouts, at least blocking the phones being frequently used for extortion by the Afghan government can give relief to the victims in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (and Fata)," a police official told The News.

The official said that around 400 cellular phones with Afghan numbers have been used over the last many months for extortion calls to Peshawarites and people of other districts of the province.

The calls from unknown Afghan numbers have scared a large number of families. Majority of those receiving calls have changed their numbers while others had to install CCTV cameras and arrange for the security of their family to avoid any untoward incident. Majority of those receiving threats have restricted their movement and have stopped going outdoor due to threats.

Whenever approached by the victims, police officials try to convince those receiving extortion calls that their local network had been smashed and they were not able to harm any of their targets.

The scare increases when a house is attacked with explosives in any part of Peshawar or rest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Many houses were attacked with low intensity bombs or grenades in the province even in recent weeks. —Bureau report