‘Involvement of Taliban likely in journalist’s kidnapping’
By Pazir Gul
MIRANSHAH, Dec 6: Authorities in North Waziristan have not been able to trace the whereabouts of a local journalist who was kidnapped on Monday. Speaking to a delegation from the Tribal Union of Journalists on Tuesday, North Waziristan’s political agent Zaheerul Islam said that although investigators had not yet reached any conclusions it was possible that “Taliban elements” had a hand in the kidnapping of Hayatullah Khan.
Mr Islam told journalists that investigations were under way to trace the whereabouts of Hayatullah and promised them that the government would provide security to local journalists and enable them to continue their professional duties.
Unidentified gunmen kidnapped Mr Hayatullah near the town of Mirali on Monday. According to sources, Mr Hayatullah had been captured sometime ago by allied forces in Angor Adda in the South Waziristan Agency. He was kept in detention for two months at Bagram airbase.
The North Waziristan Union of Journalists has condemned My Hayatullah’s kidnapping and appealed to the government to ensure his safe recovery. The journalists’ body has asked the administration to arrest the culprits and provide security to journalists in the agency.
KIDNAPPING ATTEMPT: Unidentified gunmen on Monday made an unsuccessful attempt to kidnap Khan Mohammad Khalil, the principal of Razmak Cadet College. Mr Khalil was travelling at the time with his four bodyguards from the town of Razmak to Bannu.
Sources said the armed men intercepted a double cabin pickup truck carrying the principal and tried to disarm his bodyguards. Following a scuffle between them the bodyguards fired a few rounds of ammunition alerting a Khasadar party at a nearby check-post.
The attackers fled in a car when they saw the approaching Khasadar party.
Also on Monday unidentified men snatched a pickup truck from the staff of the communication and works department on the Mirali-Bannu road. At least six official vehicles have been taken away in the agency over the past week.
