My day of horror at Plaza
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=117164
Saturday, June 07, 2008
By our correspondent
Karachi
At 5.15 p.m. June 4, I stopped at Plaza, in front of the Polani Motors on
Karachi 's busiest thoroughfare, the M. A. Jinnah Road , to have my car's
electric window repaired. Soon, I was mobbed by some seven to eight
people, who insisted that I get some door rubbers installed. I refused but
they started the work nevertheless.
Quickly, I found myself trapped, with these people doing all sorts of work
on the car, not listening to my command, directions and pleadings. These
people had me so placed that I could not run, scream or phone anybody,
even though I was on the busiest road of Karachi . By all means, I was
held hostage by them.
Then it was crunch time. Their boss handed me small piece of paper. It was
a bill for Rs25,600. He literally ordered me to pay. Yes! You read it
correctly, Rs25,600 for work I did not order and I did not know anything
about "” for installing some rubbers on the doors.
Their boss ordered me to get to the nearest ATM and pay the amount. There
are several ATMs in and around Plaza but I stalled. The heavily-guarded
portion of Abdullah Haroon Road was my safest bet. I told him, albeit
correctly, that my bank was located near the Metropole Hotel and I could
not withdraw the amount from One Link ATMs. This was not true, of course.
The head honcho, with a menacing look on his face, sat on the passenger
seat of my car, while his colleague sat in the seat behind me as we drove
to the ABN-Amro Bank near the US Consulate-General. I told the two to stay
seated, inserted my card in the door and entered the bank.
I alerted the bank guards and officials and rang up my editor. I also
tried 15, which nobody picked. Soon the police arrived and the two men in
my car were escorted to the Artillery Maidan Police Station, in front of
the Governor's House. There our crime reporter handled the issue. The
agony was finally over.
I learnt that a gang was operating at the Plaza and had robbed several people, charging, in one case Rs40,000 for installing door rubbers. I have heard of three similar cases. In one instance they went to the victim's house to get the money. I was indeed lucky.
There are currently many more members of the gang who are still at large.
It would be a good idea to inform your friends and colleagues to avoid the
area.
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