February 23, 2008	Saturday	Safar 15, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: A sub-inspector of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) on Friday allegedly abducted a traffic police constable from sector I-8/1 (duty point) and took him to the CIA centre where he was subjected to severe torture.

However, the traffic police official Syed Shakeel Kazmi succeeded in contacting his seniors by cellphone who got him recovered from the CIA centre.

The acting inspector general of police and the senior superintendent of police traffic Zubair Hashmi first ordered registration of a case against the CIA official on charges of abducting a policeman in uniform and torturing him, but they had to withdraw after the guilty sub-inspector used his influence and escaped the legal action.

The incident happened when the traffic police constable Shakeel Kazmi who was performing his duty at I-8/1 chowk signalled a without number plate car to stop as it was violating lane discipline.

A senior police official said the car driver instead of keeping his car in his lane started arguing with the traffic police, which led to exchange of hot words.

He said the car driver was turned out to be a CIA man, who allegedly hit and dragged the traffic police official inside his car and sped away.

He said he took the traffic police official to the CIA centre where he was kicked and punched and detained.

When the additional SSP Islamabad, Moeen Masood was contacted, he confirmed the incident and said that inquiry into it had been completed but he avoided giving the outcome of the inquiry.

A senior police official of traffic said: “Though the SSP Islamabad had promised to take strict departmental action against the SI, a report of the incident had been lodged with the police concerned. If he escaped departmental punishment, the report would be converted into an FIR.

The victim Syed Shakeel Kazmi had been associated with Punjab police and had joined the ICT traffic police on deputation.