In a shocking development, seven individuals, including an officer of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), were arrested on Friday for their alleged involvement in the abduction of a cryptocurrency trader and extorting a ransom of $340,000.
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The victim, 30-year-old Mohammed Arsalan, was reportedly kidnapped on December 25 from Manghopir, Karachi. Arsalan, who runs a cryptocurrency business, claimed the kidnappers forcibly accessed his Binance account and transferred $340,000 to multiple accounts. He was later released near the Brigade police jurisdiction after the ransom was paid.
According to the FIR registered at the Manghopir police station, Arsalan was lured into a meeting under the pretense of a dollar transaction by an individual named Hamid. The suspects, including two who identified themselves as Muzamil and Hammad, visited Arsalan’s office on December 24, insisting on arranging a dollar deal.
Later that night, Arsalan was coerced into meeting additional suspects. Around 1:40 a.m., a police vehicle with five individuals in plain clothes arrived, abducted Arsalan, and forcibly took him near the FIA Saddar office. The kidnappers then accessed his Binance account, transferred the funds, and reset his phone before releasing him near the Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum.
The Anti-Violence Crime Cell (AVCC) launched an investigation and arrested seven suspects, identified as Haris alias Ashar, Mohammed Rizwan Shah, Tariq Hasan Shah alias Amir, Muzamil Raza, Umer Jilani, Umer Irshad, and Noman Riffat. The CTD officer among them has not been named, and efforts are underway to apprehend another policeman who remains at large.
Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon condemned the incident, asserting that this was the act of rogue individuals, not an institutional failure of the CTD. He emphasized that strict action, including FIRs and departmental proceedings, would be taken against the culprits. “We do not spare anyone involved in illegal acts,” he assured, stressing that leniency would not be tolerated.
Arsalan detailed the traumatic ordeal, expressing frustration over the involvement of law enforcement officers in the crime. The incident has sparked public outrage, with calls for greater accountability and reforms within the police and CTD.
The authorities have registered a case under Sections 365-A (kidnapping for extortion) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code. The AVCC continues to investigate the case, with assurances that all involved, regardless of their rank or affiliation, will face justice.
This incident highlights alarming gaps in internal oversight and accountability within law enforcement agencies, raising pressing questions about the misuse of authority and the safety of citizens.
