Police, in a joint operation with the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), have uncovered a staged kidnapping-for-ransom plot and arrested the alleged victim along with one of his accomplices within 24 hours of the case being reported.
According to police, Ismail Mehsud had left his home for work and was later reported missing. A kidnapping case was subsequently registered at the Shah Latif Town Police Station, following which a joint investigation team comprising Malir police and the CPLC was formed.
Investigators used call detail records, tower location data, technical analysis, contact tracing and ground intelligence to trace the missing man.
During the investigation, police found that calls had been made from Ismail’s mobile phone to his family, with the caller posing as a police officer and falsely claiming that he was in police custody. Later, the family received ransom calls demanding Rs800,000 from an Afghan-registered mobile phone number in an apparent attempt to mislead investigators.
Acting on technical evidence and intelligence, the joint team raided Bhit Shah in Hala Taluka, Matiari district, where they safely recovered Ismail.
Further investigations revealed that the kidnapping had been staged by Ismail himself in collaboration with his associates. Police said the plan involved two accomplices, identified as Farhan and Imran, who allegedly conspired with Ismail to extort ransom money from his family.
To make the kidnapping appear genuine, Imran allegedly shot Ismail in the leg, police said.
Police have arrested Ismail Mehsud and his accomplice Farhan, while the third suspect, Imran, remains at large. Raids were underway to arrest the absconding suspect. Further legal proceedings were in progress.
