AVCC Officer Suspended After Bribe Complaint in Karachi Kidnapping Case
An investigation officer of Karachi’s Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) has been suspended after the father of a murdered kidnapping victim complained that the officer took bribes from him and neglected the case.
The complainant is Muhammad Khan, whose son Zainul Abideen was kidnapped from Steel Town and later found murdered. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Khan accused investigation officer Rizwan of receiving a total of Rs22,000 from him, including Rs2,000 allegedly taken in the name of food expenses.
Khan said the officer had met him only three times and had shown little interest in the case. As a result, he alleged, the ransom money and other belongings had not been recovered from the suspects.
The complaint and the suspension
Khan said he lodged a complaint with Deputy Inspector General (DIG) CIA Muqaddas Haider on Thursday, accusing the investigator of negligence and dereliction of duty.
Following the meeting, the DIG suspended IO Rizwan and appointed a new investigation officer. Khan added, however, that the newly appointed officer had not contacted the family so far.
The grieving father has demanded a transparent and impartial investigation. He has appealed to the Sindh home minister and the provincial police chief to ensure justice for his family.
The case so far
According to the case details, Zainul Abideen, who had returned from Saudi Arabia, went missing from Steel Town on October 14. Steel Town police registered a kidnapping-for-ransom case on October 15 and transferred the investigation to the AVCC.
His body was recovered by AVCC police on October 16 from Chhatri Ground in Bin Qasim, on the identification of the arrested suspects. Police arrested one suspect, Faisal, who is a close relative of the victim, along with his accomplice, Ansar.
Khan said the family had paid Rs500,000 in ransom in an attempt to secure his son’s release, but he was not recovered.
Why the suspension matters
Suspensions of investigation officers after family complaints are not unusual in Karachi, but they rarely become public in this detail. What makes this case stand out is the sequence: a family that had already lost a son went to a senior officer, put specific allegations on record, and saw action the same week.
The allegations against the officer remain allegations. The suspension is an administrative step, not a finding of guilt, and the officer has not been reported as having responded to the claims in the Tribune account.
That distinction matters for the family as well as for the officer. A suspension removes the officer from the case and opens the way for a fresh investigation. It does not, by itself, answer the family’s questions about the ransom money or the belongings they say were never recovered.
What happens next
The new investigation officer will now handle the case, and the family is waiting for first contact. The practical test of the DIG’s decision will be whether the new officer pursues the recovery of the ransom money and belongings, and whether the family is kept informed.
Khan’s appeal to the Sindh home minister and the provincial police chief suggests the family does not yet consider the matter closed. For police accountability in Karachi, the case is a reminder that the complaint route can work, but only if the follow-through matches the initial action.
Frequently asked questions
Who was suspended and why?
AVCC investigation officer Rizwan was suspended after Muhammad Khan complained to DIG CIA Muqaddas Haider, alleging the officer took Rs22,000 in bribes and neglected the investigation.
What happened to Zainul Abideen?
He went missing from Steel Town on October 14, a kidnapping-for-ransom case was registered on October 15, and his body was recovered on October 16 from Chhatri Ground in Bin Qasim. Two suspects, including a close relative, were arrested.
Is the suspension a finding of guilt?
No. It is an administrative step taken after the complaint. The allegations against the officer remain allegations, and no response from him was reported.
What does the family want now?
A transparent and impartial investigation, recovery of the ransom money and belongings, and contact from the newly appointed investigation officer.
