Court seeks challan against cops

ASI Faisal Jaffri, along with seven others, is accused of kidnapping a businessman.

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court on Monday sought a charge-sheet against police officer Faisal Jaffri and seven others accused of kidnapping a businessman for ransom.

The suspects — ASI Jaffri, ASI Asif, constables Ijlal Haider, Imran, Ashfaq and Jahangir and two others, namely Shaffat Ali and Kamil Masih — were arrested last month by a Rangers special task force. The paramilitary force had raided a 'fake' police checkpost in Gulistan-e-Jauhar on a tip-off to recover abductee Rao Inamullah.

According to the prosecution, Inamullah was kidnapped from Sharae Faisal in early April when he was going to the airport with his driver. As they reached the Natha Khan Bridge, they were intercepted by armed men in a car, who were posing themselves as law enforcers. The suspects hurled abuse at the businessman and made him get out of his car before torturing him and abducting him, while leaving his driver behind.

The prosecution said that the same night, the kidnappers called Inamullah's brother, demanding Rs2 million for his release. After negotiating for two days, the ransom amount was settled at Rs500,000, which the kidnappers told Inamullah's brother to give them near a petrol pump at Star Gate. He went there to hand over the money but upon seeing a police van parked there, he left immediately.

Meanwhile, the Rangers, acting upon information, raided a police checkpost and recovered Inamullah. The eight suspects were also arrested during the raid and an FIR was registered against them at the Sharae Faisal police station on the complaint of the captive.

On Monday, the ATC-I judge directed the IO to submit a challan of the case by May 12. The suspects were sent to jail custody on judicial remand till then.

The judge also dismissed a report submitted by the IO to acquit Masih, one of the suspects, for lack of evidence against him. Muhammad Burero, a deputy district public prosecutor, argued that the suspect could not be released as he was arrested red-handed and Inamullah had identified him before a judicial magistrate.

ASI Jaffri was wanted in a number of cases of robbery, kidnapping and extrajudicial killings. However, he had continued to serve in the police force, allegedly due to support from influential people.

During a previous hearing, the court had directed East SSP Pir Muhammad Shah to provide security to the complainant against Jaffri. Inamullah had pleaded that the suspect, through his aides, was threatening him to make him withdraw the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2015.