Sindh chief justice’s son abducted in Karachi

Masked men kidnapped the son of the chief justice of the Sindh high court, the first such high-profile abduction in Pakistan this year, say police officials.

Masked men kidnapped the son of the chief justice of the Sindh high court , the first such high-profile kidnapping in Pakistan this year, police officials said on Tuesday.

The abduction of the son of the Sindh high court chief justice may have been carried out to put pressure on the government to release condemned militants. (Flickr/ Creative Commons)

Ovais Ali Shah, the son of chief justice Sajjad Ali Shah, was abducted from outside the popular Agha’s Supermarket in Karachi on Monday.

Ovais, a lawyer, struggled briefly before being quickly overpowered and bundled into a white car.

Police chief Allah Dino Khawaja told the media he did not believe it was a case of kidnapping for ransom. Khawaja hinted the kidnapping may have been carried out to pressure the government to release condemned militants.

A large number of militants who have been sentenced to death are serving their final days in Sindh, officials said.

Ovais’ family members said the kidnappers had made no contact as yet. It is feared that Ovais will be taken to the restive tribal areas or into Afghanistan before negotiations begin.

Anti-terrorism expert Jamil Yusuf told the media that in such situations, the kidnappers make contact after they have taken their captive to what they feel is a secure environment. “They can also have sold the captive to another group, which is common as well,” he added.