SAHIWAL: Ten staff members of CIA Lahore Cantt turned out to be ‘captors’ of two persons, including a 12-year-old boy, it was learnt.

On Jan 19, around 10 men in police uniform had allegedly kidnapped Shahbaz, 12, and his uncle Muhammad Ashraf from Beil Ganjh village, Pakpattan tehsil. On family’s protest, Chak Badiyain police (Pakpattan) had registered a kidnap case against 10 unknown people.

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Sources told Dawn that those who raided and took away Shahbaz and Ashraf were identified as CIA Lahore Cantt Inspector Anjum Wattoo and ASI Muhammad Aslam along with others. The CIA team did not inform the Pakpattan district police about its operation.

The matter came to light when Mariam Bibi, kidnapped boy’s mother, along with her husband held a news conference at the Pakpattan Press Club on Jan 22. The family also protested in front of the Pakpattan DPO office.

Mariam had told the media that around 10-12 men wearing police uniform raided her house, allegedly harassed her husband, Muhammad Yasin, mother-in-law Karam Bibi and they took away her son and brother-in-law in two cars.

Later, the DPO took notice of the issue and ordered Chak Badiyain police to register a kidnap case.

Chak Badiyain police said the CIA staff was investigating Ashraf in a criminal case. Chak Badiyain police sources confirmed to this correspondent that both have been in CIA Lahore Cantt custody for the last 10 days.

Mariam has demanded recovery of her son from CIA police custody.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2019