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| Pakistan kidnaps a 'big business' | Pakistan kidnaps a 'big business' |
| (1 day later) | |
| By Syed Shoaib Hasan BBC News, Islamabad Sahil Saeed was taken by robbers after a raid on his grandmother's home | By Syed Shoaib Hasan BBC News, Islamabad Sahil Saeed was taken by robbers after a raid on his grandmother's home |
| The kidnapping of young Briton Sahil Saeed has focused the international spotlight on one of Pakistan's more murky secrets. | The kidnapping of young Briton Sahil Saeed has focused the international spotlight on one of Pakistan's more murky secrets. |
| Kidnapping for ransom is one of the most profitable and widespread criminal enterprises in the country. But it is one that has, until now, been fairly well hidden. | Kidnapping for ransom is one of the most profitable and widespread criminal enterprises in the country. But it is one that has, until now, been fairly well hidden. |
| Five-year-old Sahil was kidnapped after armed men broke into his family home in the town of Jhelum in central Punjab province. | |
| Since then, amid huge media attention, the police have been making an all-out effort to recover him. | Since then, amid huge media attention, the police have been making an all-out effort to recover him. |
| Those efforts at the moment appear to have reached an impasse. | Those efforts at the moment appear to have reached an impasse. |
| 'Mistake' | 'Mistake' |
| "The main thing to do at the moment is not to lose hope," says Jameel Yusuf, one of Pakistan's top anti-kidnapping experts. | "The main thing to do at the moment is not to lose hope," says Jameel Yusuf, one of Pakistan's top anti-kidnapping experts. |
| Mr Yusuf is the former head of the Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), a unique joint venture between officers and citizens in Pakistan's largest city of Karachi. | Mr Yusuf is the former head of the Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), a unique joint venture between officers and citizens in Pakistan's largest city of Karachi. |
| The committee was formed in 1990 to tackle abductions in collaboration with government security agencies. | The committee was formed in 1990 to tackle abductions in collaboration with government security agencies. |
| Whoever made the decision to go public made a mistake Jameel Yusuf | Whoever made the decision to go public made a mistake Jameel Yusuf |
| While the CPLC has broadened its functions, kidnapping for ransom has remained its forte. | While the CPLC has broadened its functions, kidnapping for ransom has remained its forte. |
| Mr Yusuf has been involved in the investigation of more than 400 cases, most of which have been solved. | Mr Yusuf has been involved in the investigation of more than 400 cases, most of which have been solved. |
| He was instrumental in the investigation into the kidnapping of US journalist Daniel Pearl, playing a key role in the arrest of the culprits. | He was instrumental in the investigation into the kidnapping of US journalist Daniel Pearl, playing a key role in the arrest of the culprits. |
| Of the Sahil case, Mr Yusuf says: "Whoever made the decision to go public made a mistake. | Of the Sahil case, Mr Yusuf says: "Whoever made the decision to go public made a mistake. |
| "In a kidnapping for ransom, the best thing you can do is to keep the matter as quiet as possible. | "In a kidnapping for ransom, the best thing you can do is to keep the matter as quiet as possible. |
| "This goes doubly for a child, who is much more difficult to handle than an adult." | "This goes doubly for a child, who is much more difficult to handle than an adult." |
| The best person to speak to the kidnappers may be Sahil's mother | The best person to speak to the kidnappers may be Sahil's mother |
| Mr Yusuf says it is clear from the facts that these are not professional kidnappers - the gangs who make abduction for ransom a regular trade in Pakistan. | Mr Yusuf says it is clear from the facts that these are not professional kidnappers - the gangs who make abduction for ransom a regular trade in Pakistan. |
| It is a big business. In 2009, 480 people were officially recognised as having been kidnapped for ransom in Pakistan. | It is a big business. In 2009, 480 people were officially recognised as having been kidnapped for ransom in Pakistan. |
| But the figure is misleading - as police try to separate kidnapping for ransom from simple kidnappings, which are related to what they term family incidents. | But the figure is misleading - as police try to separate kidnapping for ransom from simple kidnappings, which are related to what they term family incidents. |
| "The police often do this to lower crime statistics", says Mr Yusuf. | "The police often do this to lower crime statistics", says Mr Yusuf. |
| "A person is listed as having been 'kidnapped' if a family member, or a close friend or associate, is involved. | "A person is listed as having been 'kidnapped' if a family member, or a close friend or associate, is involved. |
| "The police only register the case as being 'kidnapping for ransom' if a known gang of professional kidnappers is involved." | "The police only register the case as being 'kidnapping for ransom' if a known gang of professional kidnappers is involved." |
| Such gangs abound in Pakistan. | Such gangs abound in Pakistan. |
| They are especially active in the industrial regions of the Punjab and in Karachi. | They are especially active in the industrial regions of the Punjab and in Karachi. |
| The targets are mostly rich businessmen and entrepreneurs or their family members. | The targets are mostly rich businessmen and entrepreneurs or their family members. |
| The gangs often have a threefold set-up. | The gangs often have a threefold set-up. |
| One team stakes out and kidnaps the target and then hands the victim to a middleman. | One team stakes out and kidnaps the target and then hands the victim to a middleman. |
| The middleman then transfers the person to a third party, who keeps the victim until a successful bargain is made. | The middleman then transfers the person to a third party, who keeps the victim until a successful bargain is made. |
| This is usually in an area such as Pakistan's tribal region, where police have no control. | This is usually in an area such as Pakistan's tribal region, where police have no control. |
| Death penalty | Death penalty |
| While such organised gangs play a large role in Pakistan's kidnapping industry, they are not the only ones involved. | While such organised gangs play a large role in Pakistan's kidnapping industry, they are not the only ones involved. |
| Many smaller gangs or petty criminals are also active, especially in small rural communities or within the baradari (trade-based community) network of the Punjab. | Many smaller gangs or petty criminals are also active, especially in small rural communities or within the baradari (trade-based community) network of the Punjab. |
| The victims are usually known, or even related, to the culprits. | The victims are usually known, or even related, to the culprits. |
| Mr Yusuf says "kidnapping" carries a penalty of up to life in jail, whereas "kidnapping for ransom" can carry the death penalty, which is often enforced. | Mr Yusuf says "kidnapping" carries a penalty of up to life in jail, whereas "kidnapping for ransom" can carry the death penalty, which is often enforced. |
| If the cases of "kidnapping for ransom" in 2009 were below 500 in all of Pakistan, "kidnap" cases in Punjab alone were more than 11,000 in the same year. | If the cases of "kidnapping for ransom" in 2009 were below 500 in all of Pakistan, "kidnap" cases in Punjab alone were more than 11,000 in the same year. |
| Mr Yusuf says even these figures are not comprehensive. | Mr Yusuf says even these figures are not comprehensive. |
| The key is to communicate with the men - to tell them that the child they are holding is a loved person, not a commodity Jameel Yusuf | The key is to communicate with the men - to tell them that the child they are holding is a loved person, not a commodity Jameel Yusuf |
| "Many cases are not reported as the families are not confident about the police and prefer to deal with the culprits themselves. After all, it is literally a matter of life and death." | "Many cases are not reported as the families are not confident about the police and prefer to deal with the culprits themselves. After all, it is literally a matter of life and death." |
| Mr Yusuf thinks the criminals in the Sahil case are probably of the "kidnap" type. | Mr Yusuf thinks the criminals in the Sahil case are probably of the "kidnap" type. |
| "They are probably robbers or some other type of criminal who did not know what they were getting into. | "They are probably robbers or some other type of criminal who did not know what they were getting into. |
| "For this reason, I would be even more concerned for the security of the child." | "For this reason, I would be even more concerned for the security of the child." |
| Mr Yusuf says two things need to be done immediately. | Mr Yusuf says two things need to be done immediately. |
| "First, step back and retreat from the publicity, which will have really scared the culprits. | "First, step back and retreat from the publicity, which will have really scared the culprits. |
| "The police need to be told to keep a very low profile around the residence. | "The police need to be told to keep a very low profile around the residence. |
| "The key is to communicate with the men - to tell them that the child they are holding is a loved person, not a commodity. | "The key is to communicate with the men - to tell them that the child they are holding is a loved person, not a commodity. |
| "The best person to do that would probably be the mother." | "The best person to do that would probably be the mother." |
| This could be done by circulating a a new phone number that will only be answered by her within their immediate circle. | This could be done by circulating a a new phone number that will only be answered by her within their immediate circle. |
| Mr Yusuf says: "As there is a strong possibility of someone within the larger family or community being involved, the news is likely to reach the men. | Mr Yusuf says: "As there is a strong possibility of someone within the larger family or community being involved, the news is likely to reach the men. |
| "This has to be done quickly - as every passing moment is a threat to the child's wellbeing." | "This has to be done quickly - as every passing moment is a threat to the child's wellbeing." |