KARACHI: The body of a trader, who was allegedly kidnapped last week, was found at Seaview on Sunday.

DIG-South Syed Asad Raza said that the body was covered with big boulders. It was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for medico-legal formalities. He was identified as Asif Kamal, 50, from his computerised national identity card found in his pocket.

The DIG said that the medico-legal officer had ‘verbally’ told the police that there were two-three injury marks in the head. “It may be a murder or that he had got injured by rocks in the sea,” the DIG added.

However, it transpired that the deceased was missing from Landhi where an FIR under Sections 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person), 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code and relevant section of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018 was already registered.

SSP-South Mahzoor Ali told Dawn that they received information about the body at around 7:15am from Madadgar-15.

Korangi SSP Mohammed Qais Khan told Dawn that Kamal had a shop in the Saddar mobile market.

He went there on Jan 29 but did not return back home in Landhi. The family lodged an FIR on Feb 1.

According to the FIR, complainant Tariq Kamal said his brother Asif had left home in Landhi at 1:15pm on Jan 29 for his shop.

When he did not return back till 10pm, his sister-in-law Hameeda informed him and they tried to find him but to no avail as his brother’s cell phone was continuously switched off.

The complainant said he believed that unidentified people had kidnapped his brother. However, the family did not receive any ransom call.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2025