RAWALPINDI: Three youngsters from Rawalpindi have been kidnapped for ransom in Turkey, their families claimed here on Friday.

Two of the youth belong to Katarian village of Rawat while the third is from Gujar Khan. The three men were travelling to Europe via Turkey when they were abducted by unidentified people. The alleged kidnappers have contacted the families and demanded ransom for the release of the three men.

The kidnappers reportedly tortured the three Pakistanis and allowed one of them to talk to his father and other family members in Rawat.

Zeeshan Jehandad, 24, a resident of Katarian, asked his father Jehandad and cousin Mehtab to arrange the ransom money for his release.

Mr Mehtab claimed that the first ransom call was received by Zeeshan’s father on March 6.

He said the kidnappers made another call on Friday and demanded $20,000 for the release of Zeeshan. He said the families of the kidnapped Pakistanis had sought help from the Ministry of Interior and the Foreign Office.

He expressed the hope that their efforts would prove productive in releasing the three captives.

Gluam Fareed, who belonged to Gujar Khan, left his hometown on Eidul Azha and reached Turkey through a travel agent.

Iftikhar Ahmed, one of the cousins of Gluam Fareed, told Dawn that the kidnappers were torturing him and demanding Rs6 million for his release.

He said the kidnappers had given a four-day deadline to arrange the ransom but did not mention where the money was to be delivered.

The third kidnap victim has been identified as Mudassar Ali.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2017