Extortion cases have surged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) revealing that 19 extortionists affiliated with proscribed outfits have been arrested in 14 districts of the province so far this year.
According to official CTD documents, more than 73 cases of extortion were registered this year, in which 87 individuals were nominated. However, 68 of them remain at large.
Peshawar and Khyber districts recorded the highest number of cases, with 18 FIRs each. In Peshawar, out of 34 nominated extortionists, 18 have been apprehended while 16 are still absconding. In Khyber, 5 extortionists were named in various cases, but none have been arrested yet.
In Dera Ismail Khan, two extortion cases were registered, nominating five suspects, of which one has been taken into custody. Mardan district has seen 10 registered cases, while Charsadda has reported five incidents, resulting in the arrest of two suspects. In Mohmand district, four cases have been registered, with 20 individuals nominated. Swabi has three reported cases with one suspect nominated.
Lower Dir witnessed one case with one accused nominated, but no arrests have been made. Similarly, extortion cases were also registered in Nowshera (3), Bajaur (4), Swat (1), South Waziristan (2), and Shangla (1); however, no suspects were named or arrested in these districts.
CTD officials confirmed that 68 extortionists are currently on the run across these 14 districts, and targeted search operations are underway for their arrest. Law enforcement and security agencies have been provided with detailed profiles of the absconders to ensure swift arrests and bring them to justice.
