Policemen accused of kidnapping released for want of evidence

KARACHI:

Nine suspects, including four policemen, arrested for allegedly kidnapping a man for extortion, have been released since the investigators could not find any clue against them, the administrative judge of the anti-terrorism courts was informed on Monday.

Anti-Car Lifting Cell's assistant sub-inspector Muhammad Pinjal, head constables Ali Madad and Ghulam Hussain, constable Nadeem Arsal and five others were arrested on February 21 from Orangi Town after they allegedly tried to abduct a man to extort money from him.

Their arrest was made after an unrest in the area as residents overpowered them during the course of the alleged offence and the police intervened to take them into custody. The accused policemen in plainclothes along with their accomplices were driving in an apparently official vehicle, which had no licence plates.

In the aftermath of the public-police scuffle, the West Zone SSP confirmed in a press conference that the accused were trying to kidnap a citizen, identified as Arif, from his home within the remits of Pakistan Bazar police station.

However, as the first seven-day physical remand of the suspects expired, the investigating officer furnished a report before the judge that they have been released for want of evidence under section 497(2) of Criminal Procedure Code. The judge asked the officer to file the investigation report as required under section 173 of the code to carry forward the case towards disposal.

The case against the suspects was registered under sections 365 (kidnapping), 384 (extorting), 393 (attempting to robbery) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of Anti-terrorism Act.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2016.