A special investigation team was constituted for recovering Mr Lalji, headed by DIG East Khalique Shaikh and comprised of SSP Farooq Awan and SSP Niaz Ahmed Khosa. -Photo by APP

KARACHI Business tycoon Riaz Lalji who went missing in Karachi on Sunday hours after arriving in the city from Dubai has returned home on Monday, after nearly 24 hours.

Lalji arrived in Karachi PIAs flight no PK-214 and went missing along with his gunman and driver near the Karachi airport. Mr Laljee's Mercedes was found abandoned on Shara-e-Faisal.

Sources told Dawn said that at least two vehicles which looked like police mobiles had been used by the kidnappers.

The family got worried when Mr Laljee did not reach home and his cellphone and those of his driver and gunman were found to have been switched off.

Police were informed about the incident. A special investigation team was constituted. It was headed by DIG East Khalique Shaikh and comprised of SSP Farooq Awan and SSP Niaz Ahmed Khosa.

Police registered an FIR against unknown people on the complaint of Mr Laljee's manager, Maj (retd) Mohammad Tahir. The FIR was lodged at the airport police station.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik lauded the police in their efforts for his successful recovery.

Riaz Lalji, a well-known industrialist and a close friend of President Asif Ali Zardari, owns Abbas Steel Group and in the past was also in the business of rice export.

Kidnappings for ransom have become common in recent years on a pattern recorded in early 90's when the city's overall security condition was quite unstable.

Ninety-two cases of kidnapping for ransom were reported in 2008, closely followed by at least 85 in 2009.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.