RAWALPINDI, Jan 2:  An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and three of his subordinates were booked for keeping a man in illegal confinement and extorting Rs2.7 million from him, police said.

Niaz Mohammad from Khyber Agency lodged a complaint with the superintendent of police Potohar division that he and his friend Khurshid Alam were sitting at a café in Saddar when Khurram Shahzad and two other persons came there and identified themselves as intelligence agency officials.

Niaz Mohammad alleged that he and his friend were forcibly driven to the house of ASI Shahbaz Ahmed who was posted at Airport police station.

He claimed that while being driven to the house, Khurram Shahzad stole Rs1 million from the dash board of his car and later detained him in Shahbaz Ahmed’s house.

He further alleged that he was blindfolded and forced to confess that he was involved in drug trafficking, adding that he was forced to arrange Rs2 million more for his safe release.

The police officials contacted his (Niaz) brother-in-law and asked him to arrange the money or else Niaz would not be released. However, he claimed that the kidnappers were paid Rs1.75 million by his brother-in-law after which he was released.

Police said investigation had been started into the incident to ascertain the actual facts behind the man’s detention. However, no arrests have so far been made.