Police team to be sent to Nepal

E-Paper | April 29, 2026

RAWALPINDI: The police have decided to send a team to Nepal to investigate the disappearance of retired Lt Col Habib Zahir who mysteriously went missing in the country earlier this month.

Muhammad Saad Habib, son of the missing retired officer, has suspected involvement of anti-state elements in the kidnapping and lodged an FIR with Rawat police on April 8.

After the case was registered, a Rawalpindi police officer wrote a letter to acting Inspector General of Punjab, retired Capt Usman Khattak, seeking permission from the ministries concerned for sending a team to Nepal’s Lumbini town, near the Indian border, where the retired army officer had gone for a job interview.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2017

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Bozdar Mustafa

Apr 15, 2017 03:26pm

Chronology of events suggest he has been trapped by Indian Intelligence and might have been shifted to mainland India through a process of intoxicated abduction.........

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Sajjad kamran

Apr 15, 2017 04:03pm

What will the Police team do there? It will have no jurisdiction to act in Nepal. Just a pleasure trip? Pakistan Embassy in Nepal is more than adequately staffed to take up the matter with host authorities. It is the Embassy's responsibility to act in this matter.

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PhilosoPher(from japan)

Apr 15, 2017 04:29pm

He was made an escape goat for further dealing I guess otherwise even a child of six grade knows what does it mean to travel Nepal especially near border to India.

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KHALID MEHMOOD

Apr 15, 2017 04:36pm

How come he travelled to a sensitive place for job. Since he is a retired Army officer, he should have known the risks involved.

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Iftikhar Husain

Apr 15, 2017 04:36pm

It seems certain that he has been kidnapped by Indian secret services.

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Muhammad Noorud Duja

Apr 15, 2017 05:04pm

Certain he was kidnapped by RAW and will be used to force Pakistan Government to exchange for the Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav or forced to stop his death sentence. An Army team should have been sent instead.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Apr 15, 2017 05:52pm

Good decision to send a police investigation team from Islamabad to Nepal. Nevertheless, it might prove to be an attempt in futile as the RAW agents could have taken the abducted Lt. Col. (R) Habis Zahir by now to the other side of the border. There is however no harm in trying to do the investigation from the "actual ground" where the unfortunate incident actually happened. Good luck.

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Punjabi Indian

Apr 15, 2017 08:58pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad ... I agree with you sir . Since an FIR was filed police have to investigate and bring the records upto date from the actual ground where the officer was last spotted.

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alla bux

Apr 15, 2017 10:43pm

We should send a team to India and Bangladesh.

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News analysis

Apr 16, 2017 03:36am

Being the most holiest place for Budhists, Hindus,its full of Mandirs,and Budhists Temples, Lumbini town is a busiest and tourists,as well as believers of idolism are there. There is a checkpost of Nepal & India at their respective sides,all passing through these check posts are subject to verification of passport or travel documents. Lt Col ( Rtd) Habib Zahir must have checked about Lumbini,besides he got mails from London,he must have seek information through High Commission Pakistan at London about the job offer, but unfortunately he went ahead,and now no clues. Let's pray for him,and hope for his early trace.

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Ramesh Ahuja

Apr 16, 2017 06:47am

Exchange not ruled out

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Alba

Apr 16, 2017 11:23am

The search will satisfy his son and the family but it might be a long time before we find out what has happened to him. What could have happened to him include a number of scenarios.

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Alba

Apr 16, 2017 11:25am

Why would he be kidnapped by India if he was not involved in intelligence work or with nuclear missiles? Pakistan's government has not said what branch of the military he worked in.

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