Bahraini teenager kidnapped in Pakistan
Manama, April 16, 2014
A Bahraini teenager has been kidnapped in Pakistan by a group of unknown criminals who are demanding a ransom of BD78,000 ($205,843).
Amin Abdulla Abdulhameed, who is originally from Baluchistan, has been missing for 45 days, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.
The 18-year-old returned to Pakistan last August to study art at college and was kidnapped while shopping in a market in the city of Quetta on March 1.
Police launched a city-wide search, but have been unable to trace him.
A spokesman confirmed the abduction, but refused to provide further details.
Kidnappers have been in touch with relatives of Amin living in Pakistan twice to demand money.
They originally asked for BD18,000 but later increased it to BD78,000 when they failed to receive any money.
However, there has been no contact for two weeks.
Amin's father Abdulla Abdulamir Abdulhameed, who works for Bahrain's Interior Ministry, said he last spoke to his son a day before he was kidnapped and now fears the worst.
"Amin went back to Pakistan to continue his studies and used to live in an accommodation near the college, with four other students," he said.
"He went out to buy something from a market when the kidnappers snatched him.
"We don't know the number of kidnappers, but my nephew received a call from one of them demanding the money.
"The abductor called from Amin's mobile and allowed my nephew to speak to him twice.
"They are asking for us to pay the money but we don't know Amin's condition, which makes me worry about him.
"A police report was filed on March 4 after his roommates were unable to find him or contact him on his mobile.
"His mobile went off all of a sudden and was later switched on by the kidnappers to contact the family."
Abdulhameed, who has worked for the local police for 30 years, appealed for the government to help bring back his son. Amin has three younger brothers and two sisters.
"We are all worried about him, especially his mother, who hasn't slept properly since she heard about his abduction," said Abdulhameed.
"We don't know where the kidnappers took him and how they are treating him.
"We don't know if they are giving him food or not.
"My nephew and other relatives in Pakistan are in contact with police and are following up the case."
Amin is the second Bahraini to have been kidnapped abroad for ransom in two months.
Ali Ahmed Al Nashaba, 20, was abducted on January 28 from his university campus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The electrical engineering student was eventually found unharmed after 18 days following a joint investigation by the Royal Malaysian Police in co-ordination with Bahrain's Foreign Affairs Ministry and Interior Ministry. He later returned to Bahrain. - TradeArabia News Service
