RAHIM YAR KHAN, June 1: Kidnappers of a doctor, his son and their driver have dispatched a video message in which one of the victims, Dr Khan Wazir, has appealed to the police to free some members of Chotou Mazari gang as pre-condition for the freedom of the three people.

Dr Khan Wazir, a resident of Zahir Pir area, was kidnapped along with his son and driver near Multan about one and a half months back.

The video message shows Dr Khan urging the district police officers of Bahawalpur and Multan to free the gang members to secure the release of the three victims who appear to be in chains inside a mud house at an unidentified location.

Dr Khan says in the message that he is in the custody of Chotou Mazari and his gang. He claims the gang leader who met him on Friday threatened to kill all the three victims if he (Dr Khan) did not urge police to release the arrested outlaws. Dr Khan requested his family elders to meet both DPOs and try to resolve the issue.

RY Khan District Police Officer Sohail Habib Tajik could not be contacted as his cell phone was powered off.

DPO’s PRO Arshad Nawaz told Dawn that local police had so far no information regarding the video message.

He also said Dr Khan was kidnapped near Multan and that the crime scene was out of their jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Medical Association and Young Doctors Association’s local chapters staged a protest demonstration at the DCO Chowk here against the kidnappings on Saturday.

PMA local secretary-general Dr Abdussalam Arshad told this correspondent that a relative of Dr Khan Wazir, Jahangir Khan has received calls from the gang that demanded Rs50 million ransom against the release of three victims. The CD containing the message was with DHO Dr Hasan, he added.

Dr Abdussalam claimed Bahawalpur DPO Sohail Zafar Chatta had offered release of one member of the gang against the victims’ release that was spurned by the kidnappers who gave a deadline of June 5, 2013 for payment of ransom. Otherwise, he said, the gang threatened to kill the three kidnapped persons.

He said an MNA from Rajanpur district was also being approached by PMA for mediation with the outlaws who themselves suggested the lawmakers’ name.

He said the PMA would continue its protest till the release of the kidnapped persons. — Correspondent