PESHAWAR – A daring daylight highway robbery and kidnapping has sent shockwaves through the business community of Malakand Division. Armed gunmen intercepted and abducted a prominent Swat-based currency dealer and his business partner near Batkhela, robbing them of over 50 million PKR, a licensed weapon, and their vehicle.
The victim, Rehmat Ali, a resident of Amankot, Swat, filed a formal complaint with the local Levies forces. Rehmat Ali, who operates an informal currency exchange (hundi) business, stated that he was traveling to Swat with his partner, Muhammad Fyaaz, carrying a total of 102.55 million PKR.
After successfully delivering 51.6 million PKR to two clients near a local petrol pump, the duo drove further to pay the remaining balance to a client named Imran. However, as they stopped to make the transaction, five heavily armed men in a car intercepted them, held them at gunpoint, and seized the cash.
Kidnapped on the Motorway and Tortured
The robbery quickly turned into an abduction. One of the gunmen took control of Rehmat Ali’s car, while the other four pushed Muhammad Fyaaz into their getaway vehicle. The kidnappers then drove the victims onto the motorway toward Charsadda, torturing Fyaaz along the way.
Eventually, the bandits drove the victims into the fields of Peshawar, where they dumped them. The dacoits fled with:
- Cash: A total of 50.9 million PKR in cash.
- The Vehicle: The victims’ private motor car.
- Personal Valuables: Mobile phones, business documents, and Rehmat Ali’s licensed pistol.
Suspected Gang Members Identified
The victims survived the ordeal and successfully identified three of their attackers using local police mugshots. The identified suspects include Afsar Ali from Charsadda, Hafiz (alias Hamza) from Peshawar, and Muhammad Waqar from Mardan. Rehmat Ali assured the investigators that he could easily identify the remaining unidentified suspects if they were captured. Local security forces have initiated a high-level manhunt across Peshawar, Charsadda, and Mardan to arrest the gang.
