ISLAMABAD: After a month-long investigation into a kidnapping for ransom, the police have claimed that the victim staged his abduction so he could use the Rs2 million ransom to pay off a debt. The police have arrested the alleged victim and registered a case against him.

According to the FIR, available with Dawn, complainant Mohammad Hanif told the police on May 1 that his 26-year-old son Shamraiz Ali, a tailor working in Bahria Town Phase VII, had left the shop to deliver clothes to a client on April 29.

He told police Mr Ali called a friend and told him he was going to Saddar, Rawalpindi, but would return and have dinner with him. However, the FIR said, Mr Ali did not return and his friend told Mr Hanif that he had a feeling while speaking to Mr Ali that he had been travelling in a vehicle and was speaking against his will because he spoke in Urdu instead of his usual Punjabi.

According to the FIR, the complainant nominated two people suspected on involvement. The case was registered and Fawad Khalid was nominated the investigating officer.

A police official who was not authorised to speak on the record said that a few weeks after the FIR was registered, Mr Hanif told police he got a call asking for a Rs2 million ransom, threatening to kill his son if he did not pay.

The police official said they began investigating and learned that the mobile phone through which the ransom demand was made was in Peshawar. He said police raided the location and found the alleged victim to be living there freely.

“During the investigation, it was revealed that the victim had staged [his abduction], due to which he was arrested and a case was registered against him,” he said.

Mr Ali told the press that he had been in severe financial crisis and facing pressure to return loans.

“I initially decided to run away, but later I decided to get money from my family so I could return the loan and also start a new business. I used a fake number and demanded a ransom from my mother. I am embarrassed and would not take such a step in the future,” he said.

Mr Hanif told the press that he had initially registered a kidnapping case with the Sihala police and when he received the call, informed the police about it.

“Police traced my son and it was proven that he staged a drama. I am thankful to the police that they solved the case,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2019