October 08, 2006	Sunday	Ramazan 14, 1427

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GUJRANWALA, Oct 7: A trader, who was kidnapped some two weeks ago, was released after his family paid the ransom amount to the four accused that turned out to be CIA constables.

Reports said that Muhammad Asif of Imran Park, Ratta Road, was on way to his shop when four motorcyclists had kidnapped him on Sept 27. The kidnappers had taken him to a workshop at Sharifpura locality. Later the accused, identified as head-constable Nadeem Butt, constables Umar Hayat, Abbas alias Mitho and Muhammad Arif, demanded Rs100,000 ransom for his release. Shamim Akhter, the wife of the abductee, got her husband released after paying the ransom amount to the accused.

Satellite Town police arrested Nadeem Butt, the main accused, and registered a case against him.

Investigation officer and sub-inspector Aziz Cheema said that a local court granted physical remand of the accused. He said the police were conducting raids for the arrest of the remaining three constables.

WARNING: Provincial Food Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal warned shopkeepers that they would be arrested if they did not provide commodities to the people on prices fixed by the government during Ramazan.

Speaking at a district price control committee meeting here on Saturday, the minister said that shopkeepers should display rate lists conspicuously at their shops.

He said the chief minister had taken a serious notice of the price hike and black-marketing during the holy month of Ramazan.

Punjab price monitoring committee chairman Khawaja Tahir Zia, DCO Manzer Hayat, DPO Mian Muhammad Asif, traders and committee members also attended the meeting.