By Moin Ullah Shah
KARACHI: Karachi police say they have uncovered what they describe as a staged kidnapping-for-ransom after recovering a 48-year-old travel agent who allegedly admitted to fabricating his own abduction.
According to the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA), the man, identified as Inam-ul-Hasan Umri, was reported missing on 30 July. Police said a case was registered under Section 365A of the Pakistan Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act after his family reported that unidentified kidnappers had demanded a ransom of Rs1.5 million for his release.
The investigation was later transferred to the AVCC, which, working alongside the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), launched a joint operation based on technical analysis and human intelligence.
Police said the missing man was found inside a room at Masjid Aqsa in Karachi’s Manghopir area. Officers also recovered the mobile phone that had allegedly been used to make the ransom demand.
According to police, the recovered man told investigators that he had collected large sums of money from clients for Hajj and Umrah travel arrangements, but had spent the funds and was unable to repay them. Police allege that he admitted staging the kidnapping to avoid his financial obligations.
Investigators further claimed that the man said he had remained in hiding at the mosque and had asked another individual to photograph him with his hands and feet tied before sending the image to his family to make the alleged abduction appear genuine.
Police said further investigation is under way. The claims made by investigators have not been independently verified, and no court has ruled on the allegations.
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