Kidnappings for ransom

A high-profile kidnapping case in Rawalpindi has drawn attention to the wide reach and freedom with which criminal gangs operate across the country. While kidnapping for ransom cases are a regular occurrence in most Pakistani cities, many people used to live under the notion that cases are concentrated in commercial centres such as Karachi and Lahore. The fact that Rawalpindi is also home to a sizable military population due to the presence of General Headquarters has also created the illusion that it is safer than other cities. While Karachi has set the 'gold' standard for crime in Pakistan, as any resident of Rawalpindi will tell you, it also has a significant crime problem.

The big recent case involved a businessman who was released from captivity after one month after his family paid a Rs80 million ransom. The victim was taken from the populous Rawat area, and despite the passage of a month between his abduction and eventual return, the local police are none the wiser as to who took him. In a related crime, unidentified gunmen - almost certainly associated with the kidnappers - also shot up the victim's house about two weeks after he was kidnapped. Police have no suspects in that case either. While the previous kidnapping clearly involved some planning, there are also regular reports of armed men forcing their way into cars to rob or kidnap people, depending on the criminals' reading of their victims.

Kidnapping is a heinous crime that inflicts immense trauma and suffering not just on the victims, but also their families. The police's abysmal performance at stopping such crimes, recovering victims, or even finding perpetrators after the fact is a scathing indictment of their performance. Law enforcement agencies must intensify their efforts to apprehend the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and ensure that justice is served. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for enhanced security measures in areas vulnerable to such criminal activities, as well as proactive strategies to prevent and combat kidnapping for ransom.