Firebrand cleric Nasir Madni says he was kidnapped, tortured, stripped and asked for money

Lahore Mozang Police Station registered a case on Wednesday upon religious scholar Nasir Madni's request after he alleged that he was abducted and tortured. 

The cleric has alleged that he was abducted, tortured and extorted. Following his allegations, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar has taken notice of the incident and ordered action.

Police said that it will take action according to the law after conducting a medical examination.

Addressing a press conference at the Lahore Press Club on Tuesday, Madni had said that he was abducted by unknown men and asked for money. He said that he was also beaten and stripped of his clothes while his abductors recorded the assault on video.

While showing his bruises to the media, the cleric said that the abductors had asked for the password for his YouTube channel and confiscated his phone.

“They then ran news on my social media that I am suffering from coronavirus,” Madni alleged.

According to a The News report, the cleric said that unknown culprits had abducted him at gunpoint after requesting him through WhatsApp to lead prayers in Kharian area some days ago.

The report said that the abductors had also threatened the cleric against going public with the details or approaching the police.

Madni said that he was receiving threats by unknown callers a few days ago over a video message criticising a large increase in Haj expenditures, and he had lodged a complaint with police and requested security which he was still awaiting, according to the report.

Following the incident and the cleric’s press conference, CM Punjab Buzdar took notice of the matter and summoned a report from Inspector General of Police Punjab Shoaib Dastgir.

The CM Punjab asked authorities to arrest the culprits and provide justice to the cleric.

The cleric is known for his criticism of the government and its policies, with one of his videos criticizing the government for lack of adequate measures against the coronavirus spread in the country.