CJ’s nephew kidnapped from Multan

Umar Jillani serves as an intelligence officer at the counter terrorism wing.

LAHORE:

Seven unidentified men kidnapped Umar Jillani, an intelligence agency operative and the nephew of Chief Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jillani, from Multan in the early hours of Monday.

Jillani was waylaid by seven men — three riding on a motorcycle and four riding on a car — at the corner of a street and forced into a car after he had left his house in D Chowk Garden Town for work.

Out of three motorcyclists, two were wearing black t-shirts similar to those worn by the police. Initial interrogation revealed that the assailants had earlier completed reconnaissance and had sufficient knowledge of his routine activities and movements, sources familiar with the matter confirmed.

Talking to The Express Tribune, the city police officer (CPO) Multan, SP Cantt Multan and Qutab Pur police station’s station house officer (SHO) confirmed the incident.

Umar is the son of Zahid Jillani, the former chairman of Bahawalpur Development Authority. He is working as inspector at an intelligence agency and is performing duties in its counter terrorism wing (CTW).

Sources familiar with the development revealed that he was working on some high-profile cases of terrorism and terrorists, who belong mostly to South Punjab and work for the banned outfits.

Qutab Pur police station’s SHO Faizaan Qayyum said the police cordoned off the area and started a search operation immediately after the incident. The CPO said the intelligence officers were coordinating with the police in combing the area.

Check posts and special pickets have been set up at exit and entry points of the city and security forces are checking the number plates of vehicles before letting them through.

According to sources, the police — with the help of an intelligence agency — tracked the victim’s mobile phone first at the Aziz Hotel Chowk. Ten minutes later, the phone was tracked at the Civil Hospital, Fawara Chowk and then at Ghanta Ghar. However, it was switched off afterwards, almost an hour after the incident.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Qutab Pur SHO Qayyum said a case had been registered against seven unidentified kidnappers According to Jillanis’ family, they have no enmity with anyone. However, they have not received any phone call for ransom, the SHO said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2014.