WANA: Seven employees of the Fata Development Authority, who had been kidnapped in South Waziristan about two months ago, were set free on Monday.

Officials said the kidnapped employees had been taken to the Paktia province of Afghanistan. Elders from both sides of the border played a key role in their recovery.

Political Agent Zafar Islam Khattak told newsmen that local elders handed over the employees, along with two security guards, to the administration in Khamrung area near the Afghan border. Later they were shifted to Wana.

Eight FDA employees were kidnapped from Toi Khula area, adjacent to Zhob in Balochistan, on March 10. One of them was released about one month ago.

Sources said the administration had paid Rs30 million to the kidnappers, but senior officials denied it. No group claimed responsibility for kidnapping the government employees.

Project director Atiq Bangash with seven other FDA employees was inspecting an irrigation project in Toi Khula when they were kidnapped.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2016