Shahbaz Taseer, Ali Haider Gilani in Afghanistan: Punjab home minister

E-Paper | April 30, 2026

LAHORE: The kidnapped sons of late Punjab governor Salman Taseer and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani are being held in Afghanistan, DawnNews reported.

This was stated on Friday by Punjab Home Minister, Colonel (retd) Shuja Khanzada who also said that all efforts were being made to recover Shahbaz Taseer and Ali Haider Gilani.

He said that the Punjab government had made contacts with officials in Afghanistan to recover the two men and bring them back to Pakistan.

Khanzada stated that kidnappings did not only occur in Punjab, but also in other provinces as well.

He said that around 95 per cent of kidnapping-related cases in Pakistan occur in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Shahbaz Taseer was kidnapped from Lahore on Aug 26, 2011 in the morning near his company’s head office.

Taseer was driving towards the offices of the First Capital Group off M.M. Alam Road in Gulberg when he was intercepted by the kidnappers.

The abductors who, according to witnesses, used a Prado jeep and a motorcycle, bundled the young Taseer into the four-wheeler and rushed away unimpeded.

Ali Haider Gilani was abducted from Multan on May 9, 2013 outside a Pakistan People’s Party office.

Read: Ali Haider Gilani, son of former PM, kidnapped

He was leaving a PPP street corner meeting outside the house of a supporter at Matti Tal Road in Farrukh Town when he was kidnapped.

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Aamir Ghaznavi

Feb 20, 2015 06:39pm

"Khanzada stated that kidnappings did not only occur in Punjab, but also in other provinces as well"......wow, what a lame excuse !!!

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Just Someone

Feb 20, 2015 06:49pm

I hope that these two gentlemen are released soon, but more than that I hope that this event is a source for the two gentlemen and their families to learn humility and humbleness and work for the poor masses in Pakistan.

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Naxalite

Feb 20, 2015 06:56pm

Surprisingly, both families, despite of their powerful-background, have been mysteriously silent for long.

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john

Feb 20, 2015 06:57pm

Good to know they are found lets hope we bring them back

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Shafiq

Feb 20, 2015 07:09pm

I am delighted to hear the news. I am of Pakistani origin and have not visited Pakistan for a number of years, have children and grand children . I know the heartache the parents can feel in a situation like this. It is a shame that things like this happen in the country . I hope these young men get back to their loved ones. I hope there will be lessons to all those who failed to protect citizens rich or poor in the country.

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hrk

Feb 20, 2015 07:21pm

Bring back them back please. Otherwise the government and the army should leave their job and do something else.

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Roussou

Feb 20, 2015 07:28pm

Oh dear me! I feel sorry for the families. May they remain safe and are soon recovered, Ameen.

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Junaid

Feb 20, 2015 07:48pm

@Naxalite You are right, I have noticed that as well.

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tarik

Feb 20, 2015 08:12pm

Why not Govt. of Pakistan trying to get them released rather than officials of Punjab doing it. Trying to get cheap publicity. Who so ever bring them home. They have suffered a lot.

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ksch

Feb 20, 2015 08:21pm

Kind of strange. Have kidnappers asked for ransom? Are getting a regular monthly from families? For what purpose they are holding these guys? 1 case is 4 years old. And families are silent as well as kidnappers. And former PM is in active politics. I mean if they dont know anything then really hard to focus on other things for parents.

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khan

Feb 20, 2015 08:52pm

Why use special resources for these two? They are ordinary citizens.

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Pakistani Khan

Feb 20, 2015 09:02pm

@Just Someone they will never learn that...these things comes from heart!

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Ijaz

Feb 20, 2015 09:08pm

@Naxalite because they don't want to say anything that will provoke the nutters who hold their sons. They want their sons back alive after all.

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افغان ميهن

Feb 20, 2015 09:12pm

The new scapegoat for anything going wrong in Pakistan is Afghanistan. Without proof and evidence officials release dumb statements.

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zak

Feb 20, 2015 09:28pm

Their release is near!

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malick

Feb 20, 2015 09:34pm

Kanzada, if Punjab govt is contacting for these two kidnap boys , Who is contacting for rest of others. This means PMLN is horse trading for senate election. By the way COAS and DGISPR visited Afghanistan many time. Is this foreign affair team failed to get Fazal lulah and others? What our friend ship mean with Afghanistan if Pakistan can not get released of kidnape and terrorist Fazal lulah. Shun out all Afghanies.

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KHALID SOHAIL

Feb 20, 2015 09:44pm

My dear brothers and leaders please abolish corrupt system in Pakistan for the safety and security of next generation, kids of masses and your own kids. No one is safe in hungry country, masses need food and other living things for kids. If leaders will cheat nation just for their own high living standard or status and will make own country a hungry and dangerous country, who will be happy or safe. Make tow party system like UK or US, numerous of parties and thousands of leaders have millions of desires and making money form government funds. Shame??

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hasan

Feb 20, 2015 10:32pm

@Naxalite they dare not open their mouth against the Taliban. They re abunch of cowards and badly exposed crooks!

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Muzaffar Ali

Feb 20, 2015 10:35pm

We pray for their release. May Allah guide the kidnappers.

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Nabil

Feb 20, 2015 10:53pm

What was the conspiracy behind kidnapping these two persons?

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Patriotic Indian

Feb 20, 2015 11:31pm

I pray for their safety and well being. May Allah protects them from taliban's and give them freedom. All humans should pray for their well being.

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Arshad

Feb 20, 2015 11:55pm

It doesn't serm normal to see families of both boys have been calm and cool for all these years. I think these guys are in a safe house away from Pakistani politics because everyone knows the dramas all parties play in Pak to protect their hugh vested interests in nefarious activities which generate billions daily for thrm.

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mohsin

Feb 21, 2015 12:06am

its a lesson to learn for politicans,judges etc if you failed to deliver you will be the next victim ,and will draged by commom people in streets sooner or later.

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MSAlvi

Feb 21, 2015 12:23am

These two cases do not deserve more attention and publicity than thousands of other cases of kidnapping and murder. Every citizen needs to be secure. It is a government's failure, which needs to be dealt with.

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Ahsan

Feb 21, 2015 12:47am

Such high profile kidnapping cannot happen without local support. Find and destroy such supports and problem will be resolved

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Janikhel

Feb 21, 2015 01:17am

What a strange coincidence, that 2 politically connected people are allegedly kidnapped and are still missing, their families are quite calm about it, and our "Polus" are shredding kabobs at roadside Khokas. It seems like a Political gimmick, and what right Khanzada has to contact Afghan government directly, where is the Foreign Office, or the Federal Government, if they ever answer the Official phone line, or the Sahib is in a meeting, standard answer, in Pakistan or their Embassies included overseas.

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Nat

Feb 21, 2015 01:40am

@Naxalite their families can not do anything because they are not in PMLN.

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Nat

Feb 21, 2015 01:43am

@Just Someone, this is nothing to do with poor or rich. Their families know everything about humanity and they have done a lot for poor.

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Nat

Feb 21, 2015 01:45am

@tarik because Punjab government has got direct relationship to groups who are behind these crimes.

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Nat

Feb 21, 2015 01:48am

@khan, why not?

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parveez

Feb 21, 2015 01:54am

What about all those who were kidnaped and disappeared. I was glad these politicians should know how these poor people feel. All the money their parents looted in Pakistan they should be made to give up, before their sons are returned.

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Nat

Feb 21, 2015 01:55am

@hasan, there is no need for them to open their mouths, it will not help. Everybody knows who got good relationship with extremest groups.

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Nat

Feb 21, 2015 01:57am

@Nabil, they were not in PMLN.

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Rashid Sultan

Feb 21, 2015 02:12am

@hrk Like what?

Recommend 0

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