KARACHI: Police suspect that Advocate Awais Ali Shah, kidnapped son of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, will be used as a ‘bargaining chip’ to ensure release of some captured militants.

"So far it is kidnapping, and my professional assessment is that it is not for ransom," Sindh police chief Allah Dino Khawaja told Reuters.

Security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, said they suspected the kidnappers would offer to free Shah in return for the release of captured militants.

The Rangers arrested 11 suspects "in connection with the kidnapping" during search operations in Orangi, Gaddap, Liaquatabad, Keamari, Korangi, Clifton and Jamshed Town, a Rangers press release said.

The Rangers have announced a reward of Rs2,500,000 for credible information regarding the whereabouts of Awais Ali Shah. The paramilitary force can be contacted via helpline 1101, WhatsApp at 0316-2369996 and email at rangers.madadgar@gmail.com.

A special investigation team has also been constituted to probe the abduction of Shah.

The eight-member team, headed by Deputy Inspector General Crime Investigation Agency Sultaan Ali Khowaja has been constituted to "ensure concrete efforts are made to recover the kidnappee and arrest the accused persons".

The team is to submit a daily progress report, said an AIG order released on Tuesday.

However, no First-Information Report of the incident has been registered against the abductors as yet.

CM Sindh meets SHC CJ

Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah termed the abduction of Awais Ali Shah as a serious lapse in security.

He made the remark in a meeting with Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and other senior officers from the provincial government and law enforcement agencies.

“I have taken it seriously and Inshallah he would be recovered shortly,” said the CM.

IG Police said Shah was kidnapped by four armed men at about 2:30pm yesterday.

“We have recovered his (Shah’s) car parked outside the shopping centre and have recorded statements of three eye-witnesses," said the province’s top police official.

The IG added that he had also met the chief justice and discussed the kidnapping of his son.

“With the help and close coordination of Rangers and intelligence agencies, the suspect car in which Awais Shah was kidnapped has been has been identified and we have traced it's movement,” added the IG.

Awais Ali Shah, a high court lawyer, left the SHC for Clifton to meet a friend on Monday, but did not reach there and his phone remained switched off, officials said. Sources told Dawn Shah had left the high court premises for Clifton and went missing at around 2pm.

The sources said that Awais Ali Shah was recently hired by over 700 sacked employees of the Karachi Port Trust to plead their case.

A well-placed police source who is a member of the investigation team quoting eyewitness accounts told Dawn that Awais Ali Shah was abducted near Agha's supermarket on Monday.

Shah had put up a fight before being quickly overpowered and thrown into a white getaway car, eyewitnesses told Reuters.

The vehicle had fake Sindh Police number plates, the police source said.

Using CCTV footage, police traced the path of abductor's car through Punjab Chowrangi, Baloch Colony, and the right-hand-side of Tipu Sultan Road, where the progress of the car was lost, the source said.

Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday chaired a meeting on law and order to discuss Awais Ali Shah's abduction.

The CM was briefed by the IGP, Director General Rangers and intelligence agencies and directed investigators to submit a progress report on the kidnapping every three hours.

Qaim Ali Shah advised intelligence agencies, police and Rangers to coordinate closely for the recovery of Awais Ali Shah.

It was also decided during the meeting that action will be taken against fake number plates and the display of weapons.