PESHAWAR, Feb 14: A man has accused the political administration of Landi Kotal, Khyber Agency, of kidnapping his son to ‘force’ the family to withdraw an FIR they had registered some months ago against four kidnappers.

Obaidullah, a resident of Hayatabad, told journalists at the Peshawar Press Club that his youngest son Zahirullah was kidnapped by four people hailing from Khyber Agency in August 2006 over a monetary issue. Police recovered the boy during an operation and on directives of the late Capital City Police Officer Malak Saad, registered an FIR against the four people on Jan 20, 2007, he said.

He said authorities of Landi Kotal, a sub-division of Khyber Agency, a few days ago took his eldest son Farooq into their custody. “The political administration is now forcing us to withdraw the FIR in return for my son’s release,” he said.

He said Farooq, a university student, was picked up from his house in Phase-III, Hayatabad, which was not in the jurisdiction of the Landi Kotal administration. He said his son was being kept in illegal custody.

The man appealed to higher authorities to ensure release of his son.