RAWALPINDI: A man in Rawalpindi was threatened with the abduction of his children if he did not pay Rs1.5 million in a letter delivered to his home.

The victim, who lives near Chakri Road, lodged an FIR with the Saddar Barooni police stating that he found an envelope on his porch Friday evening that contained a threat.

He said the letter stated: “We have been keenly watching your house, children and their activities for a long time, whether they go to school, to the tutor, to their grandmother’s house or to their native village.

“We have even been watching them while they are going to their relatives’ houses.”

The letter went on to demand Rs1.5m, failure to pay which would result in the abduction of the man’s children or worse. The victim was told to deliver the money to a suitable location. He was also threatened with serious consequences if he involved the police or informed anyone else about the extortion.

The letter included a suggestion for him to engage a neighbour to deliver the money in a blue bag on Kahuta Road on Saturday.

Saddar Division Superintendent of Police Ziaul Haq told Dawn that an FIR was registered and investigation began soon after the complaint was lodged with the police.

He said the police are taking precautions to ensure the family’s safety. He said the police are questioning people and have obtained CCTV footage from nearby buildings to determine who delivered the letter.

He said he was hopeful that those responsible would be traced soon, and claimed the matter seemed to be an outcome of a dispute in the family.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2020