ISLAMABAD, May 5: Malik Muhammad Javed, an employee of the Pakistan’s embassy in Iraq who was kidnapped and released in Baghdad, returned home on Thursday. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khusru Bakhtiar, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman and Malik’s family members were at the airport to receive him. He thanked the government for his safe release.

Mr Malik, who do not have diplomat status, disappeared on April 9, 2005, after leaving for ‘Maghrib’ prayers near his Baghdad home.

Later, a relatively unknown group claimed to have kidnapped him.

He was released on April 24, after hectic efforts by the government of Pakistan, which engaged the Iraqi government, Iraqi notables and friendly countries to secure his safe release.

“I am very happy to be back in Pakistan safe and sound,” Mr Malik said after his arrival at the Islamabad airport.

Malik said he had been kept in a locked room and did not know anything about his abductors.

The minister said the government and particularly President General Pervez Musharraf’s efforts had made possible the safe release of Malik.—APP