ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday gave the police three days to submit a reply in the kidnapping case of National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Deputy Director Muhammad Usman, who was abducted from the federal capital last week.

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, while hearing a petition seeking the recovery of the missing officer, remarked that if he was not rescued within the given time, the Islamabad police chief and the NCCIA director would have to appear before the court in person.

During the proceedings, the judge observed that it was alarming that a vehicle with a fake number plate could move freely around Islamabad despite the presence of CCTV cameras and security checkpoints.

He warned that strict action would be taken if the police failed to promptly recover the missing officer.

The court was informed that the abducted officer’s wife, Rozina Usman, had also gone missing.

Advocate Raja Rizwan Abbasi, representing the petitioner, told the court that he was being pressured to withdraw the case.

Justice Khan termed the matter “serious” and directed the authorities to ensure immediate recovery of the missing officer.

According to police sources, the NCCIA deputy director was abducted from his residence in slamabad’s H-13 neighbourhood, about three kilometres from Shams Colony police station.

A case has been registered there under Section 365 of the Pakistan Penal Code (kidnapping or abducting a person with the intent to secretly and wrongfully confine them) on the complaint of his wife.

The FIR stated that four armed men, travelling in a white Toyota car, abducted Mr Usman at gunpoint around 7:30pm on Tuesday.

He was stationed in Rawalpindi and residing in Islamabad while working on projects of a sensitive nature.

Initially, the incident was recorded in the police station’s Roznamcha (daily diary) on October 14. Later, the complainant — who had travelled from Lahore — lodged a formal written complaint, leading to the registration of the case.

The court adjourned the hearing, directing the police to file their report within three days

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2025