ISLAMABAD: Non-implementation of the tenancy act and the order issued by the capital administration gave advantage to the suspects in hiring a house on rent and using it to keep a four-year-boy there for ransom.

On December 21, the boy was kidnapped by four people, including his cousin, from his house located in Dhoke Jillani, Bhara Kahu, and taken to the rented house in the same locality where he was found dead on Dec 24.

The four suspects and the owner of the house were arrested.A senior police officer told Dawn that the culprits had planned the kidnapping for ransom two months ago and selected the house to keep the boy there till the payment of ransom.

During the investigation, it transpired that the double-storey house was owned by a woman and one of the suspects had hired its ground portion at Rs10,000 rent a month ago.“There was no written tenancy agreement between the owner and the tenants,” the officer said.

“The tenants paid Rs1,000 to the woman and assured her that the remaining amount would be paid later.”

After taking possession of the house, the suspects brought their belongings and started residing there.

“It was the responsibility of the police to keep an eye on tenants but they failed.” As a result, the house was used for a criminal activity which led to the death of the boy, he added.

Another police officer said a case was being registered against the woman for her failure to get the tenants registered with the police.

He said the prosecution branch was approached for legal opinion which advised the police to book her under section 188 of Pakistan Penal Code.

Under the law, landlords and tenants are bound to furnish their details with the police.

A senior officer of the local administration added that the tenancy act covered Islamabad’s rural areas while Section 144 was used for the same purpose in the urban parts of the capital.

The act is implemented by the police and the administration but the former is responsible for remaining vigilant regarding tenants. Besides, police are also responsible to take action over failure of the owners/tenants to submit the details.

“In July, the police acted aggressively against Irfan Siddiqui, a close aide to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and a senior columnist, for not getting his tenants registered with police,” the officer said.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2019