KARACHI: While actor Nimra Khan said that some armed men tried to abduct her outside a DHA hotel when she was waiting for her car, Karachi police said initial investigation showed that the incident appeared to be an attempt of ‘indecent advances’ rather than kidnapping.

In a video posted by the actor on her Instagram page, Nimra said she was waiting outside Ramada for her car when three armed men riding a motorcycle came up to her and pressed a gun to her stomach in an attempt to kidnap her. She started yelling for help but nobody, including four security guards, heard her screams.

However, she said she shoved the assailants’ motorcycle and ran into the oncoming traffic to save herself. Seeing that, a family got out of its car to help her, which is when Ramada’s team also came to rescue her, she added.

The Sindh chief minister and home minister had taken notice of the incident after the video of the actor describing what she went through went viral on social media. They asked the Karachi police chief and other police officials to investigate the issue and submit a report at the earliest.

DIG says actor told investigators she did not want to pursue the case

DIG-South Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that he had talked with Ms Khan and sought details of the incident. He said that the police had advised her to lodge an FIR to initiate formal legal proceedings but she said she did not want to pursue the case legally.

He said that as per initial investigations, he can say with a degree of certainty that it was not a kidnapping attempt or bid to rob her. Instead, it appeared to be an attempt of “indecent advances”, he added.

The police have also collected CCTV footage of the incident that shows that “one man [not three as she claimed] on a motorcycle comes into the open parking space opposite Ramada hotel and attempts to misbehave with the actor. However, she promptly responds by pushing him and runs towards the main road. A vehicle stops to rescue her. Assessing the situation, the culprit escapes from the point.”

“No belongings were snatched from her,” the police said in a statement and added that they were investigating the issue and all efforts were being made to apprehend the culprit at the earliest.

Meanwhile, after Ms Khan shared her story, support started pouring in from other celebrities. Sheheryar Munawar, Armeena Khan, Zhalay Sarhadi, Meharbano, Nadia Hussain, Sanam Jung and Nyla Raja all voiced their support.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2024