Due to allegations that they had abducted and harassed Daily Jang reporter Mohammed Nadeem the previous afternoon, two members of the Sindh Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) were placed on administrative leave on Tuesday.
Asif Ejaz Sheikh, the CTD Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, claims that the reporter and another individual were arrested and escorted to the CTD Civil Lines police station from a public transportation hub close to the racetrack.
Two employees, Kalay Khan and Zainul Abideen, were placed on administrative leave “pending further inquiry into their conduct,” according to the DIG, following a preliminary investigation carried out by CTD Senior Superintendent of Police Imran Shaukat.
Providing specifics about the results, DIG Sheikh stated that Muhammad Riaz and Nadeem were brought to the CTD complex as suspects on March 11 at approximately 3:30 p.m. by the two police constables of the CTD’s Intelligence Wing.
Zainul Abideen alleged, according to Sheikh, that on January 29, while he was traveling to the workplace, his cell phone was taken off a bus. He further stated that the constable had reported the incident to the Frere police on the same day.
According to DIG Sheikh, the suspended police officer told the investigation officer that, on March 11 at 3:30 p.m., he had seen “two suspects” on the same bus who he thought might have taken his cell phone in the first place.
The police officer at the CTD complex was advised that the suspects should be transferred to the Frere police station because that is where the incident was first reported, and that the problem did not relate to counterterrorism.
Sheikh reported that during the interrogation, Nadeem clarified that he was employed by the Daily Jang newspaper and was not a criminal. The DIG further stated that following the validation of Nadeem’s press credentials, he was permitted to exit the CTD guard room.
After “due diligence” at 7 o’clock, the other suspect was brought to the Frere police station and freed as well.
According to DIG Sheikh, the journalist has been contacted by the inquiry officer to gather information on the matter.
