PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party has expressed serious concern over the kidnapping of its central committee member Malik Ubaidullah Kasi and demanded his early and safe recovery.

ANP central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain in a statement issued here on Tuesday said that Mr Kasi had been kidnapped by unknown people from Kuchlak area a couple of days ago but the Balochistan government had failed to take effective steps for his recovery.

Mr Hussain said the kidnapping of Malik Ubaidullah Kasi was not the first incident, adding that Asad Khan Achakzai, a former spokesman of ANP Balochistan, had also been kidnapped in such a situation last year and later his body was recovered.

The ANP, he said, was deeply concerned over the incident and warned that in case the missing leader was not recovered within 72 hours, the party would announce its future line of action for his safe recovery.

He said the party did not believe in hollow promises of the rulers as Asad Khan Achakzai was found dead despite government’s commitments with the party. He said it was prime duty of the state and government to ensure early and safe recovery of the ANP leader.

Mr Hussain said such incidents had caused a sense of insecurity among Pakhtuns and added that the situation in Balochistan was being disturbed through a well organised conspiracy and it was duty of the government and state institutions to ensure protection to lives of the people.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2021