Woman ‘kidnapped’ for Rs200m traced to Dubai

Probe on to find out who sent threatening messages, orchestrated false kidnapping claim

RAWALPINDI:

A 21-year-old woman was allegedly kidnapped for a ransom of Rs200 million under mysterious circumstances from New Afzal Town in the jurisdiction of Chaklala Police Station, Rawalpindi. However, police investigations revealed that within hours of her reported disappearance, the woman had travelled to Dubai, leaving investigators stunned.

According to police, a case was registered on the complaint of Ziaur Rehman, a resident of Afzal Town, who stated that his 21-year-old sister had gone to a nearby medical store but did not return. Despite an extensive search, she could not be traced and her mobile phone was found switched off.

Several hours later, a WhatsApp message was received from the woman’s number late at night. An unidentified person, speaking in Pashto, demanded Rs200 million and warned the family to arrange the amount within three days or face dire consequences, claiming the woman had been kidnapped. The sender also shared a photograph of the woman with tape pasted over her mouth.

Police registered a case of kidnapping for ransom and launched an investigation. Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Khalid Hamdani took notice of the incident and directed SSP Operations Malik Tariq Mehboob, SSP Investigation Nasir Mahmood and SP Talha Wali to personally supervise the probe and trace the woman.

Under these directives, DSP Civil Lines Asghar Goraya and Chaklala SHO Sikandar Nawaz reviewed CCTV footage from the woman’s residence to nearby roads. Using modern technical tools and human intelligence, police identified one of the woman’s friends, leading the investigation towards Dubai. Meanwhile, the woman’s details were checked with FIA Immigration at New Islamabad International Airport, which confirmed that she had departed for Dubai from the airport just a few hours after being reported missing from her home.

Senior police officials said the confirmation of her departure suggests that she boarded the flight of her own free will. However, investigators are still probing who made the ransom demand and sent the threatening messages.