LAHORE: Law enforcement agencies investigating the abduction cases of Shahbaz Taseer, son of slain former governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer, and American aid expert Dr Warren Weinstein reportedly made a breakthrough but have simultaneously arrived at a dead-end, officials privately informed The Express Tribune.
Investigators have traced the initial kidnappers in both high-profile abduction cases, and confirmed that both are kidnappings for ransom, but discovered that the original kidnappers “sold” their victims to another set of abductors at a higher ransom, sources said.
The ‘new’ kidnappers have been identified and are organised criminals, with a strong background of such abductions, but so far, no link has been established with banned militant outfits in either case, sources added.
Investigators said that the two cases are not linked and two separate gangs are involved in these abductions for ransom.
(Read: We are not all CIA agents)
The victims, however, have been moved to a location where Pakistani law enforcers and security agencies cannot act to recover them, they added.
The investigators said the only option possibly left for the abducted persons’ families is to negotiate a ransom, which is yet to be communicated.
Investigators say they have communicated to the families that going after the abductors could endanger the victim’s lives. The agencies are playing it ‘safe’ and are waiting for the kidnappers to ‘contact’ the families, sources added.
It may be weeks before any contact is established since the kidnappers know that they are far from the reach of security agencies, a senior official familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune.
(Read: Shahbaz Taseer and today’s Pakistan)
The lack of contact by the abductors was corroborated by a joint investigation report sent to the interior ministry that analysed call data records of Taseer’s family members.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2011.
COMMENTS (48)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
The article is about Shahbaaz Taseer, yet the trolls have started to pick on narayana murthy (A reader) maybe because of his name? All of a sudden this is about Pakistan vs. India - When will Pakistanis start acting mature?
what crap load of confusing nonsense
@ SK , you only have to go back to non pakistani history books, you will find it out for yourself...another easier option is, just click history of India on google and history of Pakistan...results will answer you...thank you for your query.
Crime unlimited By Editorial Published: September 9, 2011
http://tribune.com.pk/story/248778/crime-unlimited/
@Narayan Murthy, Bro, you are wrong in saying Pakistani music is 1000 years old...Pakistan came into being on 14 Aug 1947...:) it is about 63 years only...before that there was nothing Pakistani...:)
@LOL
Actually, the point is, I have no idea what this coke studio is and if I have no idea, it also means it is frivolous (my general knowledge is pretty good).
However, I just did not understand the reaction towards my ignorance of Coke Studio (I hope, no Coppernicus or Galilee or Plato or Narayana Murthy (the real one) is involved in this project).
---------------the victims, however, have been moved to a location where Pakistani law enforcers and security agencies cannot act to recover them, they added----------------------amazing
Now the secularists should eat their words when they, in a hysterical manner, declared the abduction a work of clerics!
How can we access the market where Kidnapped people are bought and sold? Ordinary Pakistanis should also have access to it. We need new business badly and this might be the solution to all our financial problems.
@narayana murthy - Calm down buddy.. there is no comparison between Coke Studio Pakistan with Coke Studio India.. both entirely 2 different species of musical expression.. The only difference is that WE came up with it before you guys did..
Those two were abducted for ransom and the abductors were organized criminals, and not terrorists. Thank god there is no terrorism involved.
Boy, that is a comforting thought !
Good article.. so we do have security forces... 'm glad!!!
Sold? Its slavery back again in Pakistan? Looks like they are returning back to the age of Mir Kasim
I'm sorry to say that perhaps our security forces are the most backward and incompetent forces not only in this region but in the world. How embarrassing and frusterating for them to admit that they can't approach the kidnappers..Maybe I'm being complacent but if abducters are on this planet, even I can get them..
Welcome to the medieval times of Arabia where human beings are sold are bought as commodities. Does ISI has some free time out of their busy schedule of palitical manipulation and weakening civilian leadership to take notice of these crimes?
Wake up dears. Our generals would soon sell us to Taliban and Al-Quaeda. Let's start a campaign on our social networks in order to save us from being sold.
We have surrendered to terrorists. Can't the world's sixth largest army armed with more than 100 nuclear devices just recover two innocent gentlemen who have been abducted by the terrorists? Shame on our "investigators" for suggesting the recovery of abductees by paying ransom. What's the use of a huge army and intelligence setup when they can't recover two abducted persons. Soon our generals would suggest to surrender Islamabad to Taliban and Al-Quaeda.
This wishy-washy statement also lets one suggest a collusive play between the government agencies and the abductors, inter alia to set free the Fahre Islam, Fahre (Sunni)Pakistan executor of Mr. Salman Taseer!
@menteliscio
I AM worried about Delhi. And I AM NOT worried about Weinstein or Taseer.
I just found this "organized crime" tagging interesting.
What is it with Coke studio? Seriously. OK, agreed, I have no idea what that is and I don't think this Coke Studio is world famous. It's probably world famous in Pakistan, LOL
Our music industry does not depend on your Coke Studio.
Our music was not born yesterday. Karnataka Sangeetha or 'Carnatic Music' (as the British called) is abt 2000 years old. Hindustani music is about 1000 years old. Vedic chanting (which is melodious, like a Music) is abt 5000 years old.
Have all the first gang of kidnappers, at least, been arrested as step one ?? Because they committed the original crime. Our police intelligence work is truly pathetic.
The report, if read closely, exonerates the state of its prime responsibility to provide safety/security to its citizens. Also, it somehow blames the victims themselves for having been abducted, and, therefore, must pay ransom. Voila! :)
This reads like a spy novel only happening in Pakistan where there is no law and order and the people who are supposed to uphold the law and protect its citizens are impotent in their actions to do their job. The world cringes with disgust at the situation on the ground. Foreign companies would like to come to Pakistan to use the vast pool of educated men and women that are graduating from various institutions and into the market where there are no jobs. But the security system is so dangerous and fragile that much needed foreign investments are going to be rare unless the situation. In Karachi there is ethnic cleansing and in the rest of the countries regular violent terrorist acts against journalist, meteorites and average innocent people. When is it going to end I think the Pakistani people are so tired and depressed that there is no viable leader strong enough to squash this never ending spiral of terror.
The victims, however, have been moved to a location where Pakistani law enforcers and security agencies cannot act to recover them, they added
Must be Abbotabad...
' The victims, however, have been moved to a location where Pakistani law enforcers and security agencies cannot act to recover them, they added.'
Means they are somewhere in Waziristan.
Are we here talking about human beings or some other commodity that can be sold and purchased to and from one party to another.
Amazing....
You must see the movie phans gaye Obama. Probably kidnappers also saw the same movie.
@narayana murthy : yes, in this day and age it is indeed very interesting when something is simply just a crime and a not a terrorist act. I wonder if the good old days of unadulterated crime will ever return without being tinted by the label of terrorism.
looks like a press release by the abductors so as to tell how much maligned they are and how much helpless our agencies can be!
Shame on Punjab govt for failing miserably. This proved that Sharif brothers are just talk bull & when it comes to work, they as good as Jabardari govt.
these abductions for ransom.
these abductions for ransom.> Two separate gangs are involved in
these abductions for ransom.
Great news, so there's not just but two "organized" gangs which the security forces are aware of. Can they please inform us for once and for all, how many "organized" gangs we had in Pakistan so that we can be mentally prepared.
The investigating agencies said that Mr Taseer didn't left Lahore so he is still in Lahore but where????? Not totally changed their stance he has been sold to another abductors this is really interesting and irritating stories for the family and public.
narayana murthy: Ana shouldnt you be worried about delhi or something :) try to enjoy coke studio and see how your music industry depends on us for good music. i mean charachter dheela seriously
Frustrating to see how incompetent law enforcement agencies have washed their hands off the matter.
This is terribly upsetting. The CIA says that the 'victims have been moved to a location where Pakistani law enforcers and security agencies cannot act to recover them'. I am not even sure what this statement means. Are they talking about another planet? And weren't forces dispersed immediately all across Lahore to ensure that no one leaves the city? Also the original abductors who sold the victim were probably aware of how much the Taseer family could pay them and I guess that is why Shahbaz Taseer was kidnapped in the first case. I am not sure if the so-called group they sold the victim to paid them any more.We can only and only pray for his safe return.
So the retail abductors have sold the hostages to wholesale abductors and the security forces are waiting for further instructions from the abductors about the latest market price of the abductees ? Makes sense to me.
So, the new kidnappers are organized criminals. Not terrorists.
Mmmmm...interesting.
Sad to see that criminal activities have become so organised that they have others to outsource to and carry out their ATL, BTL activities. If only our law enforcement agencies had evolved over time things would have been much controllable.