LAHORE:
Report by: Luqman Ahmad Khan
A Christian livestock trader, Sabir Masih, has accused police officers and accomplices of abducting and extorting him in a shocking incident that raises serious questions about police conduct.
According to Masih, 38, the ordeal began on October 30 when he was attending a prayer service with his family at a church in Bahar Colony. During the service, he received a phone call from a police officer from the Gajju Matta Vegetable Market Police Station. While he dismissed the call amidst the congregation’s commotion, the situation escalated soon after.
As Masih and his family were returning home in a van, they were intercepted at Lilyani Stop on Ferozepur Road by two police officers and three armed men. He claims he was forcibly removed from his vehicle, handcuffed, and beaten without explanation. His brother, Abid Masih, was also assaulted when he intervened.
Masih alleges that the assailants blindfolded him, drove him to an undisclosed location, and demanded Rs. 1 million. Threatened with false criminal charges, he eventually agreed to pay Rs. 270,000. His brother Abid and nephew Allah Rakha delivered the cash to the perpetrators at Pakki Haveli, after which he was released, he revealed
However, the assailants allegedly warned Masih against reporting the incident, threatening to target his family if he did.
Despite the threats, Masih filed a complaint with the police on November 3.
However, his First Information Report (FIR) was not officially registered until November 18, after repeated follow-ups.
The FIR details multiple charges under the Pakistan Penal Code, including:
Section 342: Wrongful confinement, for unlawfully holding Masih against his will.
Section 382: Theft with violent threats, for coercively extracting money.
Section 148: Rioting while armed, highlighting the attackers’ possession of weapons.
Section 149: Collective responsibility, emphasizing the group’s organized actions.
Section 506-B: Criminal intimidation, for threatening Masih and his family with harm.
Police officials have yet to issue a formal statement on the allegations. The case remains under investigation.
