KHAR: Unidentified persons kidnapped an activist of Awami National Party in Khar tehsil of Bajaur tribal district, party workers and officials confirmed here on Wednesday.

They said the incident occurred in Islam Dehri area of Khar tehsil on Tuesday evening. They said that ANP Khar tehsil vice-president Ikramullah Mishwani had gone to Islam Dehri on his motorcycle to see his under-construction house when unknown persons kidnapped him from there.

Sadiq Akbar, a leader of ANP’s local chapter, told mediapersons that Mr Mishwani was inspecting his under-construction house when unidentified persons took him away in their vehicle. He said that the house was located in Haji Lawang area, some eight kilometres from Khar.

He said Mr Mishwani, who was also president of a local welfare association, had no personal dispute with anyone in the region.

The district administration and Levies force have confirmed the abduction of ANP activist. Officials told this scribe that they had launched a search operation for his safe recovery.

An official of the distract administration said that Mr Mishwani was also running a general store in Raggan bazaar in Khar tehsil.

The abduction of ANP activist was the second such incident in Bajaur tribal district in less than a week. On Sept 20, unknown persons had kidnapped Abdul Jabar Khan, a medical technician of Hilalkhel Charming rural health centre, from his house.

Meanwhile, ANP local chapter expressed grave concern over the kidnapping of Mr Mishwani and asked the relevant authorities to recover him at the earliest.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2019