SARGODHA: The family and relatives of a teenage boy who was found dead at the hideout of his kidnappers following a shootout with Kotmomin police have blamed police for his death.

Two of the kidnappers were also killed in the shootout late on Friday, while their accomplices escaped.

According to the police Atif Nazeer was kidnapped by Amir Shahzad and Qaiser Abbas, both residents of Kotmomin and their accomplices.

The kidnappers demanded Rs10 million ransom from Atif’s family who agreed to pay the amount to criminals for release of the teenager.

However, when the kidnappers reached a mutually agreed upon spot for receiving ransom money from Atif’s family, they were confronted by Kotmomin police at Chak No 21-SB at about 1.30am.

A shootout ensued in which Amir and Qaiser were killed, while their two accomplices managed their escape.

Later, the police found Atif dead at the residence of Qaiser Abbas, the deceased kidnapper.

The family of Atif alleged on Saturday that he was murdered because of police negligence. They said had the police immediately conducted raid on the kidnappers’ hideout, the teenager could have been rescued.

Liaqat, a maternal uncle of Atif told Dawn that kidnappers were active since long in the area and were being patronised by some local politicians and police officials.

He also alleged that both the kidnappers and the kidnapped were killed to conceal links of criminals with local police.

Kotmomin police categorically denied the charges and claimed the police promptly responded and were heading towards hideout of the kidnappers when they opened fire on them. In retaliatory police fire two of the criminals were killed.

Kotmomin police claimed that the escaped accomplices of the kidnappers had been identified and would be arrested soon.

UoG: Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad, a prominent Pakistani social scientist and former Pakistan Chair at the Oxford University, UK, has assumed charge of the office University of Sargodha (UoG) vice chancellor.

Dr Ahmad will be on deputation as he was working as School of Politics and International Relations director at the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad.

Before joining the QAU last year, he held the prestigious position of Pakistan Chair/Quaid-i-Azam Fellow at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford, UK, for five years (2010-2015).

During this time, he was also a senior research fellow at the Centre for International Studies, Oxford University.

Before joining QAU in 2005 as Associate Professor of International Relations, he served as vice chair/assistant professor of International Relations at Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus and as senior research fellow at Area Study Centre, QAU, where he did his PhD in 1996.

INAUGURATED: Muhammad Ali Municipal Library Bhalwal was inaugurated by Commissioner Mr Nadeem Mehboob which was set up with Rs5 million donation provided by Mr Nasir Muhammad Ali, son of late Chaudhry Muhammad Ali.

Mr Ali had donated over Rs15 million for setting up the UoS in 2002 and also provided scholarships to brilliant students.

Speaking on the occasion, the commissioner said despite availability of online libraries, the importance of paper books could not be ignored. He appreciated Mr Nasir Muhammad Ali for patronising such projects.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2017