Panjotha says he was kidnapped for ransom: Barrister Aqeel

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to PM on Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik said that it is good that Intizar Panjotha has been recovered and after recovery, Intizar Panjotha has given a statement that he was abducted for ransom.

He said this while talking to Shahzad Iqbal in Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’ on Sunday.He said that the Attorney General had said that Intizar Panjotha will be recovered as all-out efforts are being made. There have been some cases but the overall security situation in Islamabad is better.

Meanwhile, Intizar Panjotha, the lawyer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) founder Imran Khan who was recently rescued from abduction, has reached home. Following his recovery, Panjotha was transferred to Kohsar Police Station in Islamabad, where the original First Information Report (FIR) for his kidnapping had been lodged. Earlier, Attock police handed him over to the Islamabad police.

The Islamabad police initiated investigation to hunt the captors down. A team led by SP City Islamabad traveled to Attock to bring Panjotha back under protective custody. He was found tied up in a vehicle abandoned by his kidnappers in a remote area, after a reported exchange of gunfire between the abductors and the Hasan Abdal police.

The Kohsar police station will formally document Panjotha’s recovery and submit an official report to the court.According to an initial statement from Panjotha, his kidnappers had demanded a ransom of Rs20 million. Authorities will continue investigating based on his account, with efforts underway to track down the captors.

Meanwhile, an FIR has been lodged with the Counter Terrorism Department of the District Attock, under sections 324/427/342 and 186 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) against the unknown people involved in kidnapping and torturing him.

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja Sunday said a drama of kidnapping of Intezar Hussain Panjotha was staged and everybody knew about those who were behind it.

PTI Secretary General has shared a video message after the release of the member of Imran Khan’s legal team and said the key member of the party founder’s legal team was kidnapped four weeks ago and recovered last night.

“The kind of condition (in which) and through a drama, he was recovered is shameful. And, they tell all that we are slaves and anything can happen to anyone and it is expected from us to behave obediently with a bending head,” he remarked.

Salman Raja continued that it was shown as if they had recovered him and the kidnappers were demanding Rs20 million, whereas the fact is that during these four weeks, no one had demanded a rupee from his family.

Salman Raja said, “Do we want to live like this. Is this the concept of this country and objective for which all of us are striving?” He then requested all those in the country and overseas Pakistanis to reflect where all are standing today and what is this happening to all.