Karachi has witnessed another alarming case of kidnapping as Mustafa Amir, a young man from the city, became the latest victim of an abduction spree.
Police arrested a suspect, identified as Armaghan, during a raid on a bungalow in the Gizri area on Saturday. The operation resulted in injuries to a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and a constable. During interrogation, Armaghan confessed to killing his friend for ransom and disposing of the body in the Malir River. However, authorities have yet to recover the victim’s remains.
The inside story
According to police, 23-year-old Mustafa Amir was kidnapped from Karachi’s Khayaban-e-Muhafiz area on January 6 by Armaghan, a known drug dealer. The victim’s family later received a ransom demand of Rs20 million. The case was assigned to the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) for investigation.
During the initial probe, investigators discovered that Mustafa’s last phone call had been with Armaghan. Moreover, Mustafa’s mother had expressed suspicions about Armaghan’s involvement in her son’s disappearance.
DIG CIA Muqaddus Haider revealed that investigators obtained “significant clues” from the detained suspect. Acting on this information, AVCC officers, equipped with an arrest warrant, raided Armaghan’s bungalow in DHA. The suspect resisted arrest, opening heavy fire on the police, injuring DSP Ahsan Zulfiqar and Constable Aslam.
Armaghan then climbed onto the roof of his house and continued firing. However, police managed to gain entry and arrested him.
Who is Armaghan?
Armaghan, reportedly in his early 20s, was a friend of the victim. Police revealed that Mustafa Amir had been scheduled to appear in court on the day of his abduction in connection with a drug case. He had previously been arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) but was released on bail.
Authorities are now treating him as a potential suspect in his own abduction case. Armaghan’s household staff has also been detained for questioning.
“There is reason to believe that two other accomplices were involved in Mustafa’s kidnapping,” said the DIG CIA. He further stated that Armaghan has been formally charged in the case and has provided critical information to investigators.
Police efforts are ongoing to recover the victim’s body and apprehend any additional suspects involved in the crime.
