June 15, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 10, 1429

GHALANAI/KHAR, June 14: Eight people, including a health worker, three employees of a cellphone company and four Wapda officials, were kidnapped in different incidents in Mohmand and Bajaur regions on Saturday.

Official sources said Dr Wazir Khan Safi, an official supervising the polio vaccination drive, and two health staffers were going to Machini village from Peshawar to monitor the campaign.

When they reached Sro Killi area of Ekka Ghund, some gunmen intercepted their vehicle and kidnapped them.

Later the kidnappers freed the two workers and took away the doctor.

In another incident, three employees of a private cell company were kidnapped in Ghazi Baig area, some 25 kilometres from here, along with their vehicle.

They were going to Lakaro from Ghazi Baig for repairing a fault in a booster.

No group claimed responsibility for the incidents.

Two government officials were kidnapped from the same area on May 22.

Intercession by the political administration led to their rescue.

Four employees of Wapda along with their vehicle were kidnapped from Loweysam area, some 10 kilometers north-west of Khar, the agency headquarter, on Saturday.

They were identified as Ghulam Nabi, Asmat, Rehan and Hanifullah.

They had gone to Loweysam area in Bajaur to repair some line damages.

The incidents of kidnapping at a time when Taliban have indicated that they would not prevent government officials from working in tribal areas were being seen here as an attempt to sabotage the peace process.