NAROWAL: A Pakistani-American was kidnapped by gunmen and later released against a Rs200,000 ransom in Sialkot on March 7.

Sheikh Abdul Rauf, of Sialkot-Pasrur Road, has been living with his family in America for the past 41 years. He told Dawn that he came to Pakistan three months ago and advertised online for a driver. He said that on March 7, a person called him and that he wanted to do the job of driver. He called him for a driving test at a petrol pump near his house. Mr Rauf with his driver arrived at the petrol pump. The applicant sat on the wheel while Mr Rauf sat in the back seat of the car. Meanwhile, another person got in the car and held him hostage. They drove the car around nearby villages and demanded a Rs10 million ransom for his release. Later, he paid them Rs200,000 and secured his release. He said some unidentified people chased him again on Friday but he took refuge in a sports factory. He approached the Sadar police for an FIR against kidnappers.

A spokesperson for the district police said that an FIR has been registered and soon the suspects would be arrested.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2023