Suspended cop ‘abducts’ cabby ‘for ransom’

Victim’s plea sparks probe despite initial reluctance from police

RAWALPINDI:

A ‘defiant’ police officer, who was suspended from service on serious charges and is facing departmental inquiries, didn’t hesitate to commit another crime, this time adduction cum extortion.

The suspect in connivance with his accomplices allegedly abducted a cab driver, kept him in an illegal confinement at a police check post, subjected him to torture and demanded ransom. The driver’s statement and the CCTV footage of the abduction also came to the surface.

After the Wah Cantt police were reluctant to register a case, the victim appeared in the open court of the Rawalpindi police chief who appointed Taxila ASP Kainat Azhar an inquiry officer and sought a report.

Cab driver Waseem Ashraf, in his application to the authorities, stated that he drives the vehicle of his master by using the InDrive App. A few days ago, he dropped a female passenger at her destination in Gulistan Colony, Wah Cantt and a few moments later received a call from the same passenger who pretended to have forgotten her shopping bag in the vehicle. After searching the car, the complainant found the shopping bag in the rear trunk, which the passenger girl had deliberately placed there.

Ashraf further stated that after finding the shopping bag, he informed the girl about the bag and requested to send any male family member to receive the bag as he was taking another ride to Rawalpindi and Islamabad. During the conversation, the victim informally and unintentionally asked for a favour in return for the bag. After three to four days, the complainant again sent another message to the female passenger, asking for someone to pick up her bag.

On May 4, three boys came on motorcycles and called Ashraf to Minar Road, Hashmi Street. One of the boys, identified as Tahir Nawaz, introduced him as the brother of passenger Faseeha and asked for the bag. Another person Owais Shafqat, who was armed, introduced himself as a policeman, showed a service card, forcibly took him to check post No 3, kept him in confinement and tortured him. He alleged that Owais also forced him to massage him throughout the night. Ashraf’s owner finally paid Rs30,000 to secure release. Owais threatened Ashraf for remaining tight-lipped and otherwise to get the latter implicated in a harassment or narcotics case.

Ashraf later came to know that Owais, who has already been suspended from service in different cases, blackmails citizens with the help of his accomplices Tahir Nawaz and Hassan. The cab rider further stated that his application against the accused was not entertained by the Wah Cantt officials. The complainant said that he had the CCTV footage of the entire episode of the abduction. Ashraf appealed to the authorities to provide him justice by taking legal action against Owais and his accomplices.

When contacted, Taxila ASP Kainat Azhar said the cab driver sent indecent text messages to the girl and later settled the issue by paying her and now he is giving another colouring to the matter.

She, however, said a departmental inquiry would be held against Owais to determine the real facts of the incident and strict action would also be taken against the official if he was found involved.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2024.