LOWER DIR: Scores of Durrani Qaumi Ittehad (DQI) members on Friday staged a protest demonstration outside Timergara Press Club, demanding early release of three businessmen allegedly kidnapped for ransom in Balochistan three months ago.

Carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of their demand, the protesters marched on road at Shaheed Chowk, Timergara, while chanting slogans against the Balochistan government for its failure to take practical measures for securing release of the three innocent businessmen of Balochistan.

Later, speaking at a press conference at Timergara Press Club, DQI divisional chief Samiullah, district chief Ikramullah and others criticised the local administration of Quetta and the provincial government of Balochistan for their failure to secure release of the businessmen, including Shah Wali and Mohammad Wali, even after a lapse of three months.

They said the abductors had been demanding Rs65 million as ransom which had put the

families of abductees in agony, but the Balochistan government had turned a deaf ear to the issue.

They warned to march on Peshawar and then Islamabad if the kidnapped businessmen were not recovered.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2021