DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Four officials of the education department, including the district education officer of Tank, were abducted on Wednesday near the Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s farmhouse in the Hathala area of Kulachi tehsil here.

All kidnapped officials were later safely rescued.

According to a police official, DEO Tank Sher Mohammad Wazir, deputy DEO, accountant Qudratullah and ASDEO Farooq were travelling from Dera Ismail Khan to Tank in an official vehicle when they were intercepted by unidentified armed men near the CM’s farmhouse.

Local police reached the scene shortly after being informed and launched a search operation. A joint operation by security forces and police led to the safe recovery of all four abducted officers.

Authorities intensified search operations in the region, and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the culprits involved in the kidnapping.

Meanwhile, two individuals were shot dead by unidentified assailants near the Choti Pul area of the CRBC Canal in Keech village on Wednesday, the police said.

An official said the deceased were identified as Shaukat Wazir and Umar Liaz Wazir. The police shifted the bodies to the District Headquarters Hospital.

The motive behind the shooting remains unknown.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2025