Inquiry initiated as policemen accused of short-term kidnapping

In another discovery of black sheep in the police force, employees of the Karachi police have been found involved in a short-term kidnapping case.

Some policemen have been accused of kidnapping two young men belonging to Orangi Town.

The youths, Jawad and Abdul Khaliq, residents of Pathan Colony in Orangi Town’s Mominabad area, were allegedly kidnapped on May 15 by plain-clothes police personnel travelling on three motorcycles and a police mobile van.

It has been alleged that the young men were taken to the Gulberg Police Station where they were tortured.

A ransom amount of Rs500,000 was initially demanded for their release. Later, the two men were released after the payment of Rs300,000 in ransom.

Jawad is an intermediate first-year student, whereas Khaliq runs a small grocery shop. Khaliq also sustained injuries in his soles and heels due to the alleged torture.

Jawad's father, Shujaat, stated that on May 15, police personnel posted at the Mominabad police station posing as members of the West DIG’s special team kidnapped his son and his friend from the Bawani Chali area and subsequently handed them over to the Gulberg police.

Shujaat maintained that police officials accused his son and his friend of being involved in buying and selling of stolen mobile phones. Later, the Gulberg police received the ransom amount and released the kidnapped persons.

West DIG Irfan Baloch took notice of the short-term kidnapping for ransom. He stated that he had initiated an inquiry into the matter and would meet the families of the kidnapped youths today (Monday).

It may be mentioned here that this is not the first time in recent months when the Karachi police were found involved in criminal acts as in the recent past, several policemen were arrested and punished for various crimes.