'Abducted' Cola Next owner returns home safely in Lahore

The owner of the popular soft drinks brand Cola Next, Zulfiqar Ahmed, who was allegedly abducted from Karachi, has returned home safely, according to his family.

Ahmed was kidnapped from the port city's Maripur road on July 23 and remained missing for almost six days.

According to the police, the industrialist and his friend Qiaser were kidnapped by eight armed men when they were moving to Clifton area of the metropolis.

However, his friend was released by the abductors, the law enforcers said.

Initially, the police were reluctant to lodge a case of abduction, however, they filed a first information report (FIR) on judicial intervention by the Sindh High Court (SHC) on July 25.

Talking to a private news channel, Paracha Textile Mills owner's lawyer, Mian Ashfaq Ali, confirmed that Ahmed had reached his home in Lahore on Sunday night.

"He will soon be with his family [in Karachi]," he added.

Ashfaq further said that no group or individual had contacted the family for ransom money.

The lawyer, however, linked the abduction of the owner with Cola Next's growing popularity amid a boycott of Israel-backed products.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Karachi Asad Raza also confirmed the development citing family members.

It's pertinent to mention here that Cola Next's soft drinks saw a financial boom and mass adoption after Pakistanis boycotted Pepsi and other brands due to their affiliation with Israel.