LAHORE: For three years Pakistani law enforcement agencies failed to trace American national Dr Warren Weinstein, who was abducted from his residence in Lahore by unknown attackers.

However, after the failure of local investigators, American authorities have now requested the Punjab Government to allow their Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to interrogate two men arrested in connection with the kidnapping, who are being held in Lahore jail, Dawn.com has been told on Friday.

An official letter available to Dawn.com revealed that US Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan submitted this request to the Chief Minster Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on which the CM directed Col (retd) Shuja Khanzada, minister for environment and counter terrorism department, to look into the matter.

Moreover after getting the approval from the Inspector General of Punjab police, the authorities held a meeting with Lubna Khan, political and economic chief of US embassy, and told her about the progress of the case and were willing to give the FBI access to the two arrested accused.

During the meeting officlas told the US representative that Weinstein was kidnapped on 13 August 2011 from his house in Model Town by eight unknown armed people.

Later during investigation, law enforcement agencies apprehended two accused Saif ur Rehman and Hafiz Imran who confessed their crime and were sent to judicial lock up.

Later Al Qaida’s Chief Ayman Al Zahawari had claimed in a video statement that Weinstein was in their custody and his organisation was responsible for the kidnapping.

There were also some reports that Weinstein was being held in North Waziristan by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

In May 2012 Al Qaida also released a video of his as proof that he was alive. The initial video was followed by three more videos in September 2012 and in December.

The two arrested accused Saif and Imran also told investigators about two other accused Afzaal Hussain and Imran Ahmed’s involvement in the kidnapping.

Meanwhile investigators received information that Afzaal Hussain was killed in an encounter with Mansehra police.

Later, local investigators sent the challan of both arrested accused to an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, declaring them responsible for the crime. The challan also declared that the remaining two accused including Ayman Al Zahawari and Imran Ahmed were also proclaimed offenders.

High level sources seeking anonymity, told Dawn.com that Pakistani investigators believe that the 76-year-old Weinstein is present at some unknown place in Afghanistan and there were some earlier reports about his illness as well.

Sources claimed that negotiations were underway directly by the American authorities and militants about the release of Warren Weinstein.

However the kidnapper’s demands were so high, including a large amount of money and the release of some of their prominent members, that it was rejected.

Sources claimed that the recent move by US in this regard is that they want to go through the investigation report and the accused statements by themselves through the FBI, so that they can work on some important points to solve the case and recover Weinstein on their own.

However, after getting approval from the Punjab govt, US authorities in Pakistan will officially inform their superiors about the date and time of the accused being investigated by the FBI.