ISLAMABAD, Sept 4: A journalist was kidnapped and released here on Saturday by a group of 12 men who subjected him to torture and shaved his head.

The journalist, Omar Cheema of The News, told Dawn he suspected that an intelligence agency was behind the episode.

Two vehicles, a Land Cruiser and a Toyota Corolla, intercepted him near Kachnar Park in I-8/3 at 3.30 in the morning, he said, adding that 12 men got off the vehicles and surrounded him.

They alleged that he (Cheema) had hit and killed a man at Zero Point and ran away from the spot. Later, he was handcuffed, blindfolded and dragged to one of the vehicles.

Mr Cheema said the men took him to a house, at a distance of 30-45 minutes drive from the park. He said he was stripped and forcibly laid down on the floor. The abductors subjected him to torture and shaved his head.

“You are filing anti-government stories. What is your agenda? You are working for a lobby which favoured martial law,” Mr Cheema quoted the abductors as saying.

After an hour of torture, he said, the abductors again handcuffed and blindfolded and took him to Talagang where he was released along with his vehicle.

“The abductors remained covered, but their style of operation suggested that they were personnel of intelligence agency,” Mr Cheema added. “I have been receiving threats and some friends have also informed me that my phone is being tapped,” he said.

The journalist lodged a complaint with the Industrial Area Police Station about the abduction and torture. Medicolegal of the victim was also conducted and its report was handed over to police. An FIR has been registered. — Staff Reporter