In Karachi: Alleged kidnappers claim to be agents of Intelligence Bureau

Victim claims he was threatened with death if his family didn't pay Rs300,000 for his release

KARACHI: Four alleged kidnappers, who had abducted a gold trader from Mominabad around four days ago, have claimed that they are actually officials of the Intelligence Bureau and had detained the victim over allegations of purchasing stolen goods. The victim's family is, however, insistent that he was abducted and the accused demanded a ransom of Rs300,000 for his release.

The episode unfolded when unidentified persons allegedly kidnapped 32-year-old Saeed Khan, son of Mir Akbar, from Malik Chowk in Mominabad on January 17. The same day, the victim's family approached the Mominabad Police Station and registered a complaint of his disappearance.



Shafee, a cousin of Saeed Khan, said that unidentified persons travelling in a black Toyota Hilux Vigo, without registration plates, had abducted the victim, who owns a gold shop, from Mominabad. Two days later on January 19, the alleged abductors had called from Saeed's mobile phone and allegedly demanded Rs300,000 in exchange for his release.

After negotiations, the family had agreed to pay Rs150,000 and settled the time and place for the exchange. The two parties would meet near the Matric Board Office in North Nazimabad, where the abductors would hand over Saeed in exchange of the stipulated sum.
Saeed's family was accompanied by Mominabad Police personnel when they went to make the exchange.

Somehow, the victim's family and the police officials managed to overpower the alleged abductors, who had arrived in the same vehicle as earlier. During the scuffle that ensued, the alleged kidnappers pulled out weapons to scare the family members and police away. But the latter clung on and finally managed to subdue the alleged kidnappers.

The victim, Saeed Khan, was recovered from the black Vigo, while the alleged kidnappers were handed over to the police after being beaten soundly by the Saeed's family. The alleged abductors were taken to Mominabad Police Station.

The twist

This is where the whole episode turned really interesting. At the police station, local political leaders and other residents were already present to receive the victim and the alleged abductors.
Saeed told the gathered crowd that the alleged kidnappers had blindfolded him and made him starve for the entirety of the three days that he was in their custody. They kept telling him that they were government officials and had brought him there over allegations of purchasing stolen gold items.

"They also told me that my brother was involved in terrorist activities, which is why they had detained me," said Saeed. He added that the alleged kidnappers had stolen Rs30,000 in cash three tola gold when they had abducted him. They had later told him to ask his family to arrange Rs300,000 for his release. "They said they'd kill me if my family didn't pay the ransom amount," he claimed.

Meanwhile, Awami National Party (ANP) leader Alamzeb, PTI's local leader Malik Arif Awan and other political leaders told the media that the kidnappers present in the police station had told the Mominabad Police Station SHO in front of them that they were employees of the Intelligence Bureau.

An IB officer, Azad Khan, was then contacted to corroborate the claims. Khan summoned Saeed's brothers and the alleged kidnappers to his office in Clifton.

Meanwhile, Saeed's family was adamant to register an FIR into the kidnapping incident. The SHO, however, said that the case would be registered after the initial investigations. The SHO took the alleged kidnappers and Saeed Khan's brothers from the police station later.