Ousted PTI activist arrested on rape charges
A local activist of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who was thrown out of the party reportedly for his unethical and illegal activities, was arrested on Sunday for rape, blackmail and child pornography.
The police secured two-day remand of Abdullah Siyal, said to be a former office bearer of PTI in the Qayumabad area.
Siyal is accused of luring children into watching porn at his internet café, trapping boys and raping them, filming the criminal act and using the videos to blackmail the victims.
Defence Police Station Investigation Officer (IO) Sub-Inspector Arif Ali said that a resident of Qayyumabad, Qadir Shah, lodged a complaint that Siyal, who runs an internet cafe in the area, blackmails minors, molests them and even films the abhorrent act.
IO Ali said that PTI MPA Raja Azhar, when informed about the incident, asked the police to arrest Siyal as per legal procedure and to show no leniency even if the suspect claims to be a member of the PTI.
Quoting MPA Azhar, the IO said that the suspect was earlier an office bearer of PTI but was later expelled from the party due to his illegal and unethical activities.
Once inside the interrogation room, the suspect was allegedly quick to admit to raping 11 boys, filming their videos, and using the recorded videos to force them into more non-consensual intercourse.
Siyal, in his confession to the police, allegedly said that minor boys usually did not have money to play online games or watch movies in the internet café.
The suspect said he would let them play on credit, allow the amount to pile up and then lure them into watching obscene movies with him. Siyal said in this way he would start molesting them make their objectionable videos and black mail them into sexual acts.
The police have secured evidence from Siyal's cell phone and other devices and he will be presented before a magistrate tomorrow (Tuesday) after completion of physical remand.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2021.