KARACHI, April 26: A model and actor kidnapped for a ransom of Rs20 million over a month back from the DHA area was safely recovered on Thursday morning from a place within the remit of the Sharea Faisal police station.

While Hasan Ahmad was recovered in a joint operation of police and Citizens-Police Liaison Committee, none of the kidnappers could be arrested.

Mr Ahmad was kidnapped on his way home from a bank branch on March 21. The following day the matter was reported to the CPLC.  His family then received a call with a ransom demand of Rs20 million that was negotiated down to Rs10 million, said CPLC chief Ahmed Chinoy while speaking at a press conference.

Also present on the occasion, the victim told the media that he had no complaints against kidnappers as far as their treatment was concerned. “They treated me well. I was given proper food. But obviously you cannot expect home-like comfort when in captivity.”  A deal was struck after negotiations and a place near Mehmoodabad was finally decided for the collection of ransom and the victim’s safe release.

As the abductors reached the place, a team of the CPLC and police tried to arrest them. But the kidnappers opened fire on the law-enforcers and managed to escape. One of them was identified as Javed, said the CPLC chief.

“We also raided some places in the city and finally recovered the victim on Thursday morning, he said, adding that the ring leader was identified as Agha Mansoor, an ASI who was posted in the ACLC in 2009 and was later transferred to the Garden police headquarters.