The culprits had asked his family to pay Rs300 million for his release, but the amount was lowered to Rs50 million after a police official stepped in as a mediator between the two parties. The businessman was set free on Thursday after the agreed amount was handed over to the kidnappers.

Sources privy to the matter told daily Sindh Express that GM fell sick during captivity, which is why his family agreed to pay such a large sum of money for his quick release. But police officials have refuted claims that a deal had taken place between the family and the kidnappers. DSP Muhammad Hasham Memon was not even aware that GM had been set free in his jurisdiction. “Who is GM? I don’t know anything about him,” said SHO Hamayon Sudheer Bhayo, who is posted in the area.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2012.

At least five prisoners were injured when the ceiling of a cell in the newly constructed Shikarpur District Jail caved in. The injured inmates were taken to Civil Hospital, Shikarpur, one of them, Jumah Khan, was taken to Sukkur. The prison’s superintendent, Muhammad Usman said that the contractors had not used good quality material and the administration did not have enough money to fix the damage.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2012.