Allegations of kidnapping by CTD officials in Karachi

KARACHI: A citizen in Karachi was reportedly abducted by personnel from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on the night of December 25, 2024, with the case formally registered on December 27.

The victim, who was involved in online trading, was allegedly seized  with the assistance of people in plain clothing. This has raised serious concerns about the conduct of law enforcers in the country.

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Eyewitness accounts indicate that the kidnapping arrived in an unmarked police vehicle and confronted the victim at gunpoint.

During the abduction, the suspects transferred an estimated $340,000 from the victim’s bank account to multiple other accounts. This is equal to Rs90 million in stolen foreign currency.

Following the incident, the kidnappers reportedly erased the victim’s mobile data and discarded the device near the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) police arrested seven people, including a CTD official believed to be connected to the crime.

Sources from the Anti-Vehicle Crime Cell (AVCC) confirmed that the additional suspects detained for questioning as investigation proceeds.

The implicated CTD official is assigned to the Civil Lines Head Office in Karachi. Surveillance footage surfaced showing police officers using mobile devices during the incident.

The victim has reported that the suspects initially approached him under the guise of facilitating a currency  exchange, only to later carry out the alleged kidnapping.

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The incident sheds light on issues related to the integrity of law enforcement agencies in the country, particularly Karachi where corruption and gang violence are rife.