KARACHI: As the law and order situation worsened in Karachi, Chinese investors moved the Sindh High Court (SHC) against alleged harassment and extortion by the local police in the port city.
In a petition filed on Friday, the Chinese businessmen accused police of demanding bribes from the airport to their residences, forcing them to return to Lahore or leave the country altogether.
They expressed their disappointment over the “culture of a bribe” in the local police, adding that they had been deprived of the right to free movement and holding business meetings as their residences were often locked up with security personnel stationed outside.
For a bribe ranging from Rs30,000 to Rs50,000, the police provided limited movement opportunities, the Chinese investors said.
“Police demand bribes from the airport to our residences. We are made to wait for hours at the airport in the name of bulletproof vehicles,” the petition stated.
It also mentioned the recent incident in which three Chinese female investors were forced to return to China after facing disrespect at an Expo center.
During the court appearance, the petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Rahman Mehsud, remarked that the Chinese investors had come to Pakistan at the invitation of the prime minister and army chief, to make investments. However, they have faced numerous challenges since their arrival.
The petitioners made the federal Interior Minister, Chief Secretary Sindh, IG Sindh Police, Malir district police officials, CPEC security, Chinese embassy, and other respondents in the case.
The court issued notices and sought a response from the Sindh IG and others within four weeks.
