Another high-profile kidnapping

Dare-devil gunmen kidnapping high-profile figures for a variety of motives is a form of criminality that has long disturbed this nation. The cases of Shahbaz Taseer and Ali Haider Gilani are the most prominent examples of this malaise plaguing the country. After months of relative quiet, Karachi is again in crisis mode as one more such instance has emerged. Masked men kidnapped Ovais Ali Shah, the son of Sindh High Court (SHC) chief justice, from outside a supermarket in the city’s upscale Clifton neighbourhood on June 20 in broad daylight and thus far his whereabouts remain unknown. Eyewitnesses told police that Mr Shah, a young high court lawyer, had offered resistance before being overpowered and quickly spirited away in a white car. He is said to have left the high court premises for Clifton to meet a friend and was seized by unidentified gunmen at around 2pm.



The entire provincial administration is now on its toes, mounting a manhunt to trace out the gang and recover the high-profile captive. A senior police officer has speculated that the abductors, possibly linked to a banned outfit, may use the chief justice’s son as a bargaining chip to get their imprisoned comrades freed in return for his liberty. While this line of reasoning makes eminent sense, other possibilities such as ransom being the chief motive, cannot be discounted either. Be that as it may, the law-enforcement apparatus so far is clueless as to what exactly happened to the young attorney. It is disturbing to note that abductions have become common over the years, with kidnapping rings operating with impunity and relatively unchallenged. The fact that a son of the provincial high court’s top judge has been taken away by intrepid thugs makes the episode all the more worrisome, and shows that while the Karachi operation may have succeeded in bringing some respite to the city and restoring order, there is still much left to be done. The common man has little hope for his safety and security if the SHC chief justice’s son isn’t safe. It is important that the provincial administration does not slack in its endeavours to find the kidnapped lawyer. The spate of criminal activity shouldn’t be allowed to spiral out of control.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2016.

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