11 April 2005	Monday	01 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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ISLAMABAD, April 10: The foreign office said on Sunday that an employee who went missing from Pakistan’s embassy in Iraq had been kidnapped. Malik Mohammad Javed, an assistant, who did not have diplomatic status, went missing on Saturday night after going to a mosque for Isha prayers in the Amariya district of Baghdad. The area is considered sympathetic to militants.

“Malik Javed had since been in contact with Charge d’Affaires Iftikhar Anjum and said he had been kidnapped but he had not been harmed,” said foreign ministry spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani.

A foreign ministry statement said persons claiming to be members of the Omar bin Khattab group had apparently kidnapped the embassy employee.

Iftikhar Anjum was in ‘constant touch’ with Iraqi authorities and local leaders to secure the release of Malik Javed, the statement said. – AFP

SAFE RELEASE: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has appealed for the release of the kidnapped employee, saying he was a civilian who should be freed on humanitarian grounds, adds our staff reporter.

Speaking at a press conference, the minister said: “I appeal to the kidnappers to release Malik Javed. He is a civilian member of the embassy staff.”

“The government of Pakistan strongly condemns the incident and hopes that the safe release of Mr Javed will take place soon.”

The minister said a man called the Pakistani embassy in Baghdad on Sunday claiming to be a member of a group called Omar bin Khattab and said the employee was in their custody. Mr Javed also spoke to the Pakistani charge d’affaires in Baghdad and said he was safe.

The kidnappers had also made some demands for the staffer’s safe release, the minister said and added that these were not being made public for the time being by the government.

He said the Pakistani Embassy in Baghdad would not be closed nor would it reduce staff strength after the kidnapping.

He said the government was making utmost efforts to ensure the staffer’s release. “We are trying our best and are in constant contact with the Iraqi government.”

He said the Iraqi ambassador in Islamabad had been summoned to express the government’s anguish and he was requested to ask his government to make all out efforts for Mr Javed’s safe release.

FOREIGN OFFICE: A foreign ministry press release issued here said that all possible efforts were being made to ensure the safe release of the kidnapped staffer.

“The Iraqi ambassador was called to the foreign office. He has assured that Iraqi authorities will make all possible efforts to secure the release of Mr Javed,’’ the statement said.