Zardari's 'missing' close aides recovered from Turbat

Published
7
PPP did not strike a deal to rescue Ghulam Qadir Marri and Ashfaq Leghari, says PPP Senator Saeed Ghani. —DawnNews screengrab
PPP did not strike a deal to rescue Ghulam Qadir Marri and Ashfaq Leghari, says PPP Senator Saeed Ghani. —DawnNews screengrab

Two close aides of former president Asif Ali Zardari, who had reportedly gone missing earlier in April, were recovered from Balochistan along with their three staff members, DawnNews reported on Sunday.

Ghulam Qadir Marri and Ashfaq Leghari, as well as three members of their staff, were reported missing on April 7 after Marri's vehicle was found abandoned near a thermal power station in Jamshoro.

Senior Superintendent Police Tariq Dharejo said the two close aides of Zardari were rescued from Balochistan's Turbat area in Kech district with the help of intelligence agencies.

They were all shifted to Karachi.

PPP Senator Saeed Ghani in a press statement said that the reportedly kidnapped persons were rescued solely via the help of law enforcement agencies and that the PPP did not "strike any deal" to rescue them.

The PPP had suspected that they had been taken into custody by the powers who the party thought were plotting against Zardari.

Marri owns rich agricultural land in Tando Allahyar and lives in Darya Khan Marri’s village. According to family sources, he is suffering from multiple ailments. He looks after agriculture lands and related matters of top PPP leaders.

He accompanied Zardari during his visit to Hub in the third week of March for a political gathering. He is said to be quite close to Mir Munawar Talpur, husband of Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur.

Moreover, Ashfaq Leghari went missing or was kidnapped on the Super Highway. Leghari is said to be working for the Omni group’s Dubai office. He went missing in the area of Gadap police station.

The three other people who had gone missing with Marri were identified as Khan Mohammad Mangi, said to be a secretary of Marri, Sajjad Arain and driver Mehboob Khaskheli.

Opinion

Editorial

Muddled hierarchy
Updated 15 Nov, 2026

Muddled hierarchy

The jurisdiction of the two courts and a mechanism for settling disputes between them should be spelt out in law, not left to judges to fight over.
Growing crisis
Updated 15 Nov, 2026

Growing crisis

Calling population growth a national emergency is easy. Ensuring that the response reaches the people who need it is the real challenge.
Organised rackets
15 Nov, 2026

Organised rackets

ON the International Day against Transnational Organised Crime, observed today, Pakistan finds itself in a tight...
Referendum talk
Updated 14 Nov, 2026

Referendum talk

Unless the PPP is deliberately using Sindh as a bargaining chip, it should issue a clarification with a clear, consistent position on new administrative units, not one tailored to protect its home turf.
Mineral wealth
Updated 14 Nov, 2026

Mineral wealth

Minerals should not be presented as a solution to Pakistan’s long-term economic difficulties. The aim should be to build an industrial base rather than export raw materials.
Late diagnosis
14 Nov, 2026

Late diagnosis

AS we mark World Diabetes Day today, Pakistan faces a troubling question: how many people are living with diabetes...