Screengrab of prominent cardiologist Dr Munaf Tareen.
District Police Officer (DPO) Ahmed Nawaz Cheema on Sunday claimed no credit for the recovery of Dr Tareen. “Law enforcement agencies have no role in his safe recovery,” he admitted, adding that the doctor was dropped off by captors in an isolated place near Bela.
Tareen is one of 26 medical professionals in the province whose families paid large amounts to free them from captivity.
“As many as 26 doctors have been kidnapped so far. Eighteen fell victim to targeted killings while 86 have left the province,” said Dr Sultan Tareen, the president of the Pakistan Medical Association. “Some police officers and influential tribals are involved in kidnappings, which is why not a single culprit had been arrested.”
He said the police arrests only petty criminals to show that something has been done. He accused the police and law-enforcement officials of being involved in the lucrative business’ of kidnapping for ransom.
About Dr Munaf Tareen, the home secretary said the investigators have obtained information after recording his statement. “Our first priority was safe recovery of Dr Tareen. We have leads and we will trace the culprits,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2013.
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