October 13, 2003	Monday	Sha'aban 16, 1424

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RAWALPINDI, Oct 12: A police inquiry has found three officials of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) guilty of picking up an innocent man and taking Rs25,000 from him for his release, an official source said on Sunday.

The inquiry was conducted by the SP crime on the complaint of Momin Khan, a former member of a reconcilatory committee and resident of Allama Iqbal Colony.

Mr Khan said in his complaint to the DIG Rawalpindi that Chaudhry Abdul Rauf, identifying himself as a police official posted at the CIA Rawalpindi, telephoned him and asked him to arrange Rs70,000 as he wanted to buy gifts for a marriage ceremony.

The complainant said Chaudhry Rauf along with two other police officials arrived at his home on August 28 and dragged him into a police van.

Mr Khan said, “the cops took me to the CIA centre where they conducted search on my body and deprived me of cash. They also threatened me that a fake case would be registered against me.

“They asked me to arrange Rs70,000 if I wanted a safe passage, otherwise I will be booked and will not be bailed out for at least two years.”

He said a police official provided him with a mobile telephone so that I could contact my friends for arranging the money.

Mr Khan said as he could not contact anybody, the policemen took him to one of his friends in Saddar at midnight from whom he borrowed Rs25,000 and gave the money to Chaudhry Rauf.

After the payment, they freed the man asking him to arrange the remaining amount within a couple of days.

The complainant said he had been feeling unsafe as the policemen were threatening him of dire consequences if he failed to arrange the money.

In response to the complaint, the DIG ordered an inquiry which found the CIA police officials guilty, the source said.