Police arrest ‘sexual predator’

A suspect arrested in an injured condition after a shootout with police has turned out to be a sexual predator who was allegedly involved in several serious crimes, including kidnapping and harassing of women before robbing them.

The suspect, identified as Waseem, son of Muhammad Usman, has made important revelations during preliminary investigations, according to Baghdadi police which arrested him after an encounter.

SSP City Zone Muhammad Imran Khan said that Waseem was involved in several serious crimes, including abducting women after offering them free rides in his auto-rickshaw, harassing, and beating them before robbing them. He would particularly target women from colleges, universities, hospitals and markets.

Waseem was caught in CCTV cameras kidnapping a lady doctor from the Aaram Bagh area. In the footage, he could be seen offering her a ride in his rickshaw. Similarly, he was also involved in the abduction of a university student. He was wanted to Baghdadi police in a case involving abduction of a girl.

Police recovered arms, snatched mobile phones, and a dagger from his possession and also impounded the rickshaw he had used in the crimes. Police said 10 cases of serious nature have been registered against the accused and further investigation is underway.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2022.