Industrialist back home but no trace found of ‘kidnapped’ doctor

A case of the kidnapping of Zulfiqar Ahmed, a well-known industrialist, was registered in Karachi recently and was widely highlighted in the media. Finally, under mysterious circumstances, he returned home after five days.

There are various speculations about the motives behind his alleged kidnapping, but no authentic information about the “kidnappers” and their motives has been provided by the Cola Next owner himself, his family or the police investigation team.

Although it is still unclear who was behind the alleged kidnapping and why, the sensitivity of the case is such that when The News tried to get some information from their close circle, the general response was: “If I tell you, then I too will become a news item”.

That was a high-profile case which received a lot of media attention, and probably because of which the Cola Next owner was able to return home.

However, another high-profile “kidnapping” took place in Karachi the day after the Zulfiqar Ahmed incident, but for some reason it did not get the same media attention.

Although the victim’s friends tried to highlight the alleged kidnapping on social media, the information still could not make it to news channels. This case involves Dr Zaid Makda, a doctor at a major private hospital located on National Stadium Road in Karachi.

It is believed that on the morning of July 24, Dr Makda left home as usual for his morning shift at the hospital, but he has been missing since then.

Even after a week, there has been no trace of him. His friends and colleagues have shared posts on a micro-blogging website, mentioning Dr Makda’s “kidnapping” and requesting people to pray for his safe recovery. They also questioned the police.

When The News contacted the police about this incident, they confirmed it and said the investigation is still in its initial phase, so they cannot disclose much.

“It’s clear that this is not a kidnapping for ransom case, nor does it seem to be a case of personal issue/enmity,” a senior officer said on the condition of anonymity. “We have registered the kidnapping case at the New Town police station.”

Based on their initial investigation, it seems like a car was used in the alleged kidnapping; the motive is still unclear, but the police are making efforts to safely recover him soon.

FIR No. 270/24 has been registered at the Mobina Town police station under the Pakistan Penal Code’s Section 365 (Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person). The case was filed based on a complaint by the doctor’s father Ashfaq Makda against unidentified persons.

According to the father’s statement, Dr Makda, who works in the emergency department of a renowned hospital, left home at 8:30am on July 24 for work; when he did not return home by 4pm as per his routine, the family tried to call him at 4:30pm but found his phone switched off.

The father said the family then contacted the hospital and discovered that Dr Makda had not arrived for his duty that day; after an unsuccessful search, the family contacted the police and registered an FIR, expressing their suspicion that the doctor had been kidnapped by unidentified persons over unknown reasons.

It should be noted here that Zulfiqar Ahmed, the owner of Cola Next, was “found” late on Sunday night in Lahore. The missing businessman had been “dropped off” in Lahore.

The identities of those who had “abducted” him and later “released” him remain unknown. Two other employees of the beverage company who were “abducted by armed men in two black Vigos” on Friday remain missing.

A petition for their recovery has been filed with the Lahore High Court. Ahmed was allegedly abducted by masked men on Mauripur Road in Karachi on July 23.

Petition disposed of

The Sindh High Court on Tuesday disposed of a petition against the abduction of a businessman as the court was informed that the businessman had returned home.

During hearing of the petition against the enforced disappearance of businessman Zulfiqar Ahmed, police officials filed their statements and said the alleged missing person had returned home.

A division bench, headed by Justice Mrs. Kausar Sultana Hussain, inquired whether it was a kidnapping for ransom case. The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the businessman was picked up from Karachi and released from Lahore and two employees of the company were also picked up from Lahore. The court inquired the investigation officer what progress had been made in the case.

The investigation officer submitted that no one had appeared on behalf of the petitioner nor had any person made a statement in this regard. The petitioner’s counsel submitted that Zulfiqar Ahmed would record his statement before the police and right now he was not in condition to record his statement. The counsel for the petitioner submitted that he wanted to withdraw the petition as it had served the purpose.