Sajid Gondal returns home after alleged abduction

SECP official went missing from Islamabad last week

ISLAMABAD:

Sajid Gondal, an official of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) who went missing from near his farm in Islamabad last week, has returned home.

“I am back and safe, and I am thankful to all friends who were worried for me,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle Tuesday night.

I am back and safe, and I am thankful to all friends who were worried for me.

— Sajid Gondal (@sgondal) September 8, 2020

The SECP official has reached at his brother’s residence where police official, SP Farooq Amjad along with his team visited him and said he was safe and sound.

SP Farooq said further investigation into the matter will be carried out after recording Gondal’s statement.

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari confirmed the development in a tweet, saying Prime Minister Imran Khan had made it clear during the federal cabinet meeting that it was unacceptable for people to ‘disappear’ as laws are present to deal with all manner of crimes. “Strict orders were given to IG and the Interior Ministry on this issue. Good to have Sajid Gondal back safe & sound,” she added.

PM made clear in Cabinet that it was unacceptable for people to "disappear" as laws are present to deal with all manner of crimes. Strict orders were given to IG & Interior Ministry on this issue. Good to have Sajid Gondal back safe & sound. pic.twitter.com/j67aP74bpp

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) September 8, 2020

On Saturday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had ordered authorities to recover Gondal by Monday.

An IHC single-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah gave this order while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Asmat Bibi, the mother of Gondal.

Justice Athar Minallah noted that the interior secretary and the Islamabad chief commissioner will also have to appear before the court if Gondal was not rescued by the given time.

He also directed his office to refer the matter to the federal cabinet. “It should be taken up at the next cabinet meeting if Sajid Gondal is not found.”

The court also forwarded a copy of the order to the Cabinet Division secretary. "The abduction of a citizen from the federal capital is extremely alarming," the judge remarked.

The family of the SECP official, who earlier worked as a journalist, told the police that Gondal after returning from office had gone to his dairy farm. He had stayed at the farm for some time but never reached home. The official’s wife feared that her husband might have been kidnapped and urged the police to ensure his recovery.