Veiled vices: Two students arrested in Abbottabad

Handed over to CTD for trying to extort money from property dealer

ABBOTABAD: At least two university students were arrested in Abbottabad for trying to extort money from a property dealer on Friday. They were handed over to the counter-terrorism department (CTD).

Abbottabad DSP Amjad Khan told The Express Tribune Shahzad Naseer, a resident of DI Khan who lived in Lalazar Colony in Abbottabad, was enrolled in the second semester of his undergraduate at Comsats University Abbottabad.

“Muhammad Shoaib, his accomplice, who was also a resident of DI Khan, was living in Jhangi area of Abbottabad,” he said. “Shoaib was in the first semester of BBA at Global Institute Lahore.”

According to DSP, the students sent a letter to the house of Munir Khan, a local property dealer, asking him to pay Rs2 million in extortion.

Naseer and Shoaib stated this was a demand made by the leader of a banned outfit. They threatened Munir of dire consequences if he failed to cough up the amount.

According to Amjad, Munir informed the police about the threat immediately. A thorough investigation was conducted and the students were arrested.

He added the accused were using a SIM card that actually belonged to a man from Hunza and was living in Lahore.

Responding to a question, the DSP said, “Even though they are highly educated, the accused have been involved in many criminal cases and most of these will be exposed during investigation.”

He said Naseer and Shoaib have been handed over to CTD for further interrogation since this was a case of terrorism.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2016.