Brit-Pak man questioned for masterminding own abduction to get money from father

Islamabad, Jan 18 (ANI): A British-Pakistani man is being questioned for allegedly 'masterminding' his own abduction along with his British wife to extract money from his father.

The Daily Mail quoted Lahore police as saying that 25-year-old Syed Awais Haider and his wife Jaima Louis William, 24, were abducted at gun-point while they were shopping in Lahore's Gulberg area a week ago.

Following the abduction, a call was reportedly made from Haider's mobile phone to his residence in Iqbal Town, demanding Rs 5 million (about 38,000 pounds) from his family.

According to police, Haider's family had paid Rs. 200,000 to the abductors before informing police bout the matter.

Crime Investigation Agency Superintendent Umer Virk said the couple were rescued, but added that police were investigating Haider's role and that of his two friends in the whole episode.

"We have taken Haider and a few of his friends into custody on suspicion of masterminding the kidnapping drama. Haider made the plan with the help of his friends to extract money from his father," the paper quoted Virk, as saying.

Police believe William was unaware of her husband's plan.

The couple were married two years back and have an eight-month-old son. They came to Pakistan in August 2010. (ANI)