Riaz Lalji returns home; driver, gunman still missing

KARACHI Prominent industrialist and a close friend of President Asif Zardari, Riaz Lalji who went missing in Karachi on Sunday, hours after his arrival in the city from Dubai, returned home on Monday. As per details, owner of Al-Abbas Steel Group, Riaz Lalji reached Karachi from Dubai through PIA flight - PK-214. He went missing along with his gunman and driver near Karachi airport. His Mercedes car was found abandoned on Shahra-e-Faisal. It is said that at least two vehicles which looked like that of police mobile vans were used by the kidnappers. The family got worried when he did not reach home and his cell-phone and those of his driver and gunman were found to have been switched off. The police were informed about the incident. The City Police chief constituted a special investigation team, comprising DIG (East) Khalique Shaikh, SSP Farooq Awan and SSP Niaz Ahmed Khosa, to probe into the case. An FIR was registered with the Airport Police against unknown culprits on the complaint of Laljis manager, Maj (r) Mohammad Tahir. Meanwhile agencies add: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Sindh Home Minister Zulfikhar Mirza on Monday met President Asif Zardari and briefed him on the recovery of Riaz Lalji Well-known trader and close friend of President Zardari, Director of Al-Abbas group Riaz Lalji was kidnapped along with his driver and gunman from Super Market, the close vicinity of Karachi International Airport on Sunday. However Monday morning, Riaz Lalji turned up to his house. However his driver and guard are still missing. Prompt recovery of his driver and guard were also discussed.

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