The Lahore police claim to have apprehended a 12-member gang, including a woman, responsible for honey-trapping renowned playwright Khalilur Rehman Qamar.
The gang was caught with modern weapons, a large amount of money, and mobile phones. Authorities are now reaching out to more potential victims of this criminal group.
The incident involved the gang kidnapping Qamar on the pretext of scriptwriting, extorting a ransom of Rs10 million, and erasing data from his mobile phone to cover their tracks. The gang had been planning and executing major criminal activities, targeting high-profile individuals.
Also Read: Writer Khalilur Rehman Qamar's kidnappers arrested: police
Addressing a press conference over the incident in Lahore on Monday with DIG Imran Kishwar, Qamar recounted the events that led to his kidnapping and robbery. He claimed he had been barred by doctors from going out during the day, so he went to meet the woman late at night.
Carefully planned operation
DIG Imran Kishwar revealed that the gang had planned and carried out major incidents, adding that the police recovered data from Khalilur Rehman Qamar's mobile, identified the woman and caught her accomplices. The writer was abducted and robbed, he added.
The DIG further said the gang had meticulously planned the operation, contacting Qamar on July 15 under the pretence of discussing a drama script. Amna Urooj, the main conspirator, had been in touch with Qamar for 10 to 15 days, exchanging phone calls and pictures before luring him to her residence.
Also Read: Eminent dramatist Khalilur Rehman kidnapped, tortured in Lahore
The DIG said Khalilur Rehman was kidnapped by armed men and Rs10 million ransom was demanded of him. The suspects also withdrew money through his ATM card and later deleted all the data from his mobile phone, Kishwar added.
The officer said they traced the woman by recovering data from Qamar's phone, adding that 12 suspects, including the woman Amna, were arrested. Two more members of the gang were still wanted, while two more victims of the gang have been identified and are being contacted, DIG Kishawar claimed.
Modern weapons were recovered from the suspects, who were working with women.
Amna's statement
Meanwhile, the police also recorded the statement of Amna Urooj, the central suspect in the honey-trap case. She is claimed to have told the police that she was in touch with Qamar for 10 to 15 days over the phone, and they also exchanged pictures.
She further claims to have told the police that Qamar asked her to meet, after which she invited him over to her place.
Police have said the suspect, Amna Urooj, a resident of Gujranwala, duped high-profile people and extorted huge sums of money. The incident is being investigated from various aspects, police officials added.
