KARACHI: An eight-member committee was formed on Tuesday in the wake of kidnapping of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah’s son from a supermarket in Karachi a day earlier.
The team comprising DIG CIA Sultan Khawaja. DIG South Muneer Shaikh; SSPs Dr Farooq, Naveed Ahmed, Nisar Khawaja and Adeel Chandio of CTD; SSP Farooq Awan of SIU; Raja Umar Khattab of CTD and SHO of Clifton Police Station has been mandated to take measures to recover Awais Ali Shah and arrest his kidnappers at the earliest.
Pakistan Rangers Sindh has taken into custody 11 suspects from various areas of metropolis in connection with the kidnapping. A Rangers spokesman said that the suspects were arrested in search operation in Orangi, Gaddap, Liaqatabad, Keamari, Korangi, Clifton and Jamshed Town areas.
The Rangers has also announced a reward of Rs 2.5 million on provision of credible information regarding the kidnappers.
Family sources said that Awais Shah went to a super market in Clifton to buy something but did not return. His mobile phone had been switched off since afternoon. Police DSP Rasheed said car that whisked Owais Shah away from the shopping mall was seen last time at Tipu Sultan Road. Mobile data of the SHC CJ’s son has also been taken, besides CCTV footages from different locations.
Police has so far recorded statements of two eyewitnesses. According to them, Awais was taken away by men in white shalwar kameez. They said he initially resisted the kidnapping and fought with the alleged abductors. His car was later recovered from outside the shopping mall. Forensic experts are inspecting the car for likely finger prints of the abductors.
On the appeal of Sindh Bar Council (SBC), the legal fraternity of Karachi boycotted the court proceeding to record their protest against the kidnapping of CJ’s son. Though Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah attended his office and performed routine works, lawyers, however, in solidarity with the CJ kept away from the routine judicial work.
After the incident of kidnapping, the government has decided to accelerate pace of Karachi operation.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep concern over the kidnapping of Barrister Awais. He also received a briefing from the Ministry of Interior and other authorities concerned on the efforts made so far to recover Awais. He directed the civil, armed forces and intelligence agencies to beef up their efforts and leave no stone unturned to recover him.
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