NAWABSHAH, Aug 13: The kidnappers have demanded Rs1 million ransom for the release of Arshad Ali Memon, a salesman in a private motorcycle company who was kidnapped by seven armed men at the Sakrand bypass a week ago, said his father.

Fida Hussain Memon told journalists on Monday that the kidnappers called him on Saturday, using his son’s mobile phone, and demanded Rs2 million ransom.

He said that the kidnappers again called him on Monday and reduced the ransom amount to Rs1 million, threatening to kill Arshad if the ransom was not paid.

He said that when he told the kidnappers that he could not pay such a huge amount, they told him not to worry, saying that the district police officer would have to make the payment.

Fida said that the kidnappers brought Arshad on line who kept on crying while talking to him.

He said that he had met the DPO who had assured him that Arshad would be safely recovered. He appealed to Sindh Chief Minster Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and the Sindh police chief to take notice of the kidnapping incident and direct the police to make efforts for his son’s immediate recovery.

When contacted, District Police Officer Dr Ghulam Sarwar Jamali said that the police were making all out efforts for safe recovery of the kidnap victim. He said that the police had found some clues and arrested a number of people in the case.

Meanwhile, family members and relatives of Arshad staged a protest demonstration outside the local press club, demanding his son’s recovery. The protesters were carrying placards and raising slogans.