BANNU: Unidentified armed men abducted five employees of Water and Sanitation Services Company (WSSC) near Fatahkhel police post here on Monday.

According to initial reports, the assailants forcibly took the employees with them and also seized their official vehicles before fleeing the scene.

The abducted individuals have been identified as Razzaq, Imtiaz, Gul Mohammad, Israr, and Kamal Shah. WSSC chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan has also confirmed the incident, stating that all possible measures were being taken to ensure the safe recovery of the employees.

Soon after the incident was reported, police reached the area and launched a search operation to trace the kidnappers and recover the abducted staff.

Three of the abducted employees were later released due to the efforts of a jirga, which intervened to negotiate with the armed group. However, two employees and one official vehicle are still in the custody of the kidnappers.

Negotiations through the jirga are still underway. Authorities have expressed hope that the remaining hostages will also be recovered safely, as efforts from both law enforcement and community leaders continue.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2026