Shopkeeper abducted for ransom, woman arrested

A shopkeeper was allegedly abducted for ransom from Ghulam Muhammad Abad area, police said on Tuesday.

The victim was later recovered in a raid while a woman suspect was arrested, and raids are underway to arrest her accomplices.

According to police, a case under kidnapping for ransom charges has been registered at Ghulam Muhammad Abad Police Station.

Police stated that 35-year-old Abdul Rehman, a resident of Green View Colony who runs a shoe shop in Bhawana Bazaar, came into contact with a woman identified as Najma Bibi, wife of Sher and a resident of Makkoana, when she visited his shop as a customer.

During repeated interactions over nearly two weeks, the woman allegedly developed friendly contact with him and later invited him for a meeting.

Police said she, along with her accomplices, abducted him and took him to Makkoana.

The suspects then demanded Rs1 million ransom from the victim's family, later settling for Rs500,000 and instructing that the amount be placed near Baba Qaim Sain shrine.

Upon receiving the ransom demand call, the victim's brother informed the police helpline. Taking notice of the situation, City Police Officer Tanveer Hussain directed SP Lyallpur Town Abid Hussain Zafar and SHO Ghulam Muhammad Abad Inspector Yousaf Shehzad to immediately recover the hostage.