IHC gives police 3 days to recover ‘kidnapped’ NCCIA official

The Islamabad High Court on Monday set a three-day deadline for the capital police to recover National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Deputy Director Muhammad Usman, who was allegedly abducted last week. Justice Muhammad Azam Khan warned that if the officer is not recovered within the given time, the NCCIA director and the Islamabad inspector general must appear before the court in person.

The case is based on an FIR registered at Shams Colony Police Station by Usman’s wife, Rozina, who said her husband, serving as Deputy Director (Operations) on sensitive projects, was forced into a white car at gunpoint on October 14 at around 7:30pm. During Monday’s hearing, the court was informed that Rozina, the petitioner, had also gone missing. Her counsel, Raja Rizwan Abbasi, told the judge she complained of pressure to withdraw the petition and that her phone was now switched off.

Police told the court they would try to recover Usman by Monday evening but requested a week’s time. Citing CCTV footage, the petitioner’s lawyer said the abduction vehicle bore a fake number plate. Justice Azam questioned how such a vehicle could move around the city despite checkpoints and cameras, and ordered retrieval of call data records to track those allegedly pressuring the petitioner. The assistant attorney general sought additional time for investigation.