RAWALPINDI, Jan 4: Police have launched a hunt for a constable posted at the official residence of the city police officer (CPO) as a wireless operator for his alleged involvement in torturing a British national of Pakistani origin and depriving him of Rs3.2 million and valuables, official sources said on Tuesday.

They said Naeem Butt had already been suspended and a criminal case registered against him.

Asif Hussain, the British national, complained to the Civil Lines police that he was robbed of Rs3.2 million, a laptop and four cell phones by a gang of six robbers.

The complainant said he arrived here last month and approached one of his neighbours Akbar Ali to help him purchase a house in the Lalazar area. Later, Akbar told him that he had seen a house for sale at a reasonable price.

He said that on December 23 Akbar informed him that he had settled the price of the house with its owner and also arranged his meeting with the landlord. On his directive, Mr Hussain added, he took the amount and reached Akbar's house at Lalazar along with his brother Amir Shahzad the following day. While they were waiting in Akbar's house, four persons carrying guns forced their entry and started beating Mr Hussain.

He said the armed men tortured him and tied his arms and legs and also gagged him. “Later, the gunmen escaped after snatching the Rs3.2 million, a laptop and four cell phones.”

Soon one Malik Iftikhar came there and the victim narrated his ordeal to him. After this, Iftikhar telephoned to one of his friends, later identified as Naeem Butt, and asked him to come to the house.

The complainant said after reaching the house, Butt called a police officer to examine the crime scene and threatened the robbery victim that he would face investigation if he sought police help.

When the victim approached the Tariqabad police to register a case, he was asked to submit a written complaint about missing of his documents including a licence, credit and identity cards.

He alleged that Ali Akbar, Malik Iftikhar and the constable had planned the robbery.

When contacted, police investigating officer sub-inspector Mohammad Ashraf Butt said three of the accused had been arrested while raids were underway to nab the others including the constable.