Islamabad :  President Asif Ali Zardari has taken note of the complaints of extortion and poor law and order situation in Karachi as the business community in the port city kept their establishment shut in protest Saturday.

Spokesperson to the president Farhatullah Babar said Zardari directed Interior Minister Rehman Malik to deal with the situation, reported Associated Press of Pakistan. He also told Malik to proceed to Karachi and coordinate with the provincial government in redressing the grievances of the people against extortion.

Malik said the issue would be resolved within five days. "I assure you that the problem of extortionism in Karachi would be resolved within 4-5 days and we have dispatched 400 policemen and 100 vehicles to Karachi," he was quoted as saying.

He said during the last 15 days three policemen have been killed during operation against the extortionists. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and other political parties have backed traders who went on strike.