Suspended police officer “kidnaps” taxi driver for ransom

RAWALPINDI:

A “defiant” police officer, suspended from duty over serious allegations and facing police investigation, did not hesitate to commit another crime, this time adduction and extortion.

The suspect is said to have, in concert with his accomplices, kidnapped a taxi driver, illegally detained him at a police checkpoint, tortured him and demanded a ransom. The driver’s statement and the CCTV footage of the kidnapping also came to surface.

After the Wah Cantt police hesitated to register a case, the victim appeared before the Rawalpindi Police Commissioner’s Public Court, who appointed Taxila ASP Kainat Azhar as the investigating officer and demanded a report.

Taxi driver Waseem Ashraf stated in his application to the authorities that he was driving his master’s vehicle using the InDrive app. A few days ago, he dropped a passenger at her destination in Gulistan Colony, Wah Cantt and moments later received a call from the same passenger who claimed to have forgotten her shopping bag in the vehicle. After searching the car, the complainant found the shopping bag in the rear trunk, which the passenger had intentionally placed there.

Ashraf further stated that after finding the shopping bag, he informed the girl about the bag and asked to send a male family member to receive the bag while he made another trip to Rawalpindi and Islamabad. During the conversation, the victim informally and unintentionally asked for a favor in return for the bag. After three to four days, the complainant again messaged the passenger and asked for someone to collect her bag.

On May 4, three boys on motorcycles came and called Ashraf to Minar Road, Hashmi Street. One of the boys, named Tahir Nawaz, introduced him as the passenger’s brother Faseeha and asked about the bag. Another person, armed Owais Shafqat, introduced himself as a police officer, showed an ID card, forcibly took him to Checkpoint No. 3, detained him and tortured him. He claimed Owais also forced him to massage him throughout the night. Ashraf’s owner eventually paid 30,000 rupees to secure his release. Owais threatened Ashraf that he would remain silent or get him involved in a harassment or narcotics case.

Ashraf later learned that Owais, who has already been suspended from duty in various cases, was blackmailing citizens with the help of his accomplices Tahir Nawaz and Hassan. The taxi driver further stated that his complaint against the defendant was not taken into consideration by the Wah Cantt officials. The complainant said that he has the CCTV footage of the entire abduction episode. Ashraf appealed to the authorities to provide him with justice and take legal action against Owais and his accomplices.

When contacted, Taxila ASP Kainat Azhar said the taxi driver sent indecent text messages to the girl and later solved the issue by paying her and now he is giving a different color to the matter.

She, however, said a ministry investigation would be initiated against Owais to ascertain the true facts of the incident and strict action would also be taken against the officer if he was found to be involved.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^Th2024.