Police start short-term abduction of journalists

KARACHI: Police have started short-term kidnapping of journalists also, after common citizens.

Muhammad Nadeem, a reporter of Daily Jang, was abducted by the CTD personnel on Monday, as kidnapping of citizens for ransom has become a routine in Karachi lately.

According to details, Mohammad Nadeem was coming to his office on Monday when two motorcycle-riders abducted him and another citizen from a minibus near Cantt Mor in Frere police station precincts. They introduce themselves as the CTD officials and took the two to the CTD civil lines.

The kidnappers searched Mohammad Nadeem and the citizen. However, after finding Jang press card from Nadeem’s pocket, they released him. However, they threatened him of dire consequence if he told anyone about the incident. According to Muhammad Nadeem, the other citizen abducted along with him was not released by the CTD officials. 

In this regard, DIG CTD Asif Ijaz Sheikh said he would conduct an inquiry into the incident.

On the other hand, journalistic organisations have strongly condemned the incident. President of Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) Ijaz Ahmed, General Secretary Azam Jamali, Vice Presidents Muhammad Nasir Sharif, Lubna Jarrar, Khazin Yasir Mehmood, Joint Secretaries Rafiq Baloch and Talha Hashmi condemned the CTD action.

In a joint statement, they said the illegal activities of the policemen were increasing in Karachi, as they had started abducting journalists after common citizens. They demanded the Sindh governor, chief minister, DG Rangers, IG Police and DIG CTD to arrest the policemen involved in abduction of Mohammad Nadeem and another citizen, take legal action against them and expel them from service.

The Karachi Union of Journalists (Dastur) also strongly condemned abduction of Muhammad Nadeem for ransom, and demanded the higher authorities that the persons involved in the incident should be arrested.

In a statement, President KUJ (Dastur) Khalil Nasir and General Secretary Naimat Khan and other office-bearers expressed their concern over the incident and demanded the IGP Sindh and the Sindh government to carry out a complete and impartial investigation into the matter.