Market for ransom

Kidnapping for ransom is an old, established and organised crime in Sindh, particularly in Karachi. Typically, well-to-do businessmen and other affluent people would be picked up by a group of kidnappers, who would then quickly hand over the abducted person to another group for a fee. The eventual abductors that would negotiate with the loved ones of their captive would often extort many times the initial sum paid to the kidnappers and would very often be a completely different outfit from the initial group of criminals. In the recent 3-4 years, kidnappings have risen to alarming levels. While admitting that a significant number of cases are never reported to the authorities, data compiled by the Citizens Police Liaison Committee shows that an average of 82 persons were kidnapped in Karachi per year, between 2008 and 2010. By comparison, the tally was at a fractional, 27 cases per year in the 1997-2007 period. Although the CPLC has not yet made public any data for 2011-12 period, it appears the trend of rising abductions has risen further. In May 2012, the chairman of one trade representatives body informed BR Research that "at least 25 different businessmen or their family members are currently in captivity of kidnappers". The official added that though authorities were involved in negotiations with the criminals, news of the crimes was being withheld from media outlets. Nor are kidnappings for ransom the only crime plaguing the metropolis. Frequent bouts of political killings have lately also been interspersed with kidnappings, extortion and other crimes. The impact on the business community and economic elite has also been quite apparent. On one hand, industrialists who possess Mercedes and BMW cars are now often spotted in the industrial areas travelling in relatively inexpensive cars. On the other, many have shifted their families abroad to Dubai, London or other destinations of choice. While the affluent can afford to move out, the not-so-big business owners are doubly stuck, unable to move away and unwilling to be bogged down. What is most disturbing is the more recently rising trend of mass kidnappings. In this age of consumerism, it appears that even kidnappers have stumbled upon the purchasing power of the middle class! Recent reports highlight cases where groups of criminals kidnapped multiple numbers of females from one locale, in order to collect Rs50,000 each for the abductees. Simply put, kidnappings and other crimes have blown the attractiveness of this city for investors, to smithereens.