Islamabad Hit by “Short-Term Kidnapping” Gangs

ISLAMABAD: Reports of “short-term kidnappings” — where passengers are lured, looted, and quickly released — are on the rise in the federal capital, sparking growing concern over public safety and police negligence.

According to police sources, at least five incidents of such crimes have been officially recorded since late September. However, another recent case remains unregistered, allegedly due to reluctance by local police officers to file the complaint.

Victim Claims Police Ignored Her Complaint

One of the victims, a woman traveling with her daughter, faced this ordeal on the Islamabad Expressway last Sunday. Her son, Mohammad Umer Saeed, told reporters that his mother and sister were waiting for transport to Gujar Khan when a car carrying three women stopped and offered them a ride.

Moments after boarding, the passengers inside turned out to be robbers. “They snatched my mother’s purse, which contained her mobile phone and Rs2,000 in cash,” Umer said. “When she resisted, they pushed both of them out of the moving vehicle near Khanna and sped away.”

The victims immediately went to Khanna Police Station to file a complaint but were allegedly ignored. “The officers acted as if they were too busy to listen,” Umer said. “The duty officer even left without taking her statement, forcing her to return home without any help.”

When the victim returned the next day with her son and a written application, police accepted the complaint but did not issue a receipt or registration number, claiming the previous duty officer was responsible for the matter. Since then, the family has not been contacted regarding any investigation or follow-up.

Crime Pattern and Police Response

Official data shows that between September 26 and mid-October, five cases of similar crimes were reported across Islamabad — including at the Secretariat, Tarnol, Industrial Area, and Khanna police stations. In these incidents, robbers looted amounts ranging from Rs40,000 to Rs300,000.

Investigators believe at least two organized gangs are behind the wave of crimes.

• One group uses private cars to pose as helpful motorists offering rides.

• The other operates as fake passenger transporters, often with female accomplices to win victims’ trust.

These gangs typically target commuters waiting at bus stops or along highways, offering them rides before robbing them of cash, jewelry, and phones.

Rising Concern Over Safety and Accountability

Residents have expressed frustration over the growing number of such cases and what they describe as a “culture of indifference” within Islamabad’s police force. Citizens urge authorities to take immediate action, deploy undercover teams at bus stops, and restore confidence in public safety.

Despite repeated attempts, Islamabad police officials did not comment on the progress of the investigations or whether any suspects have been arrested.