PESHAWAR, Jan 22: The Alliance for Protection of Human Rights (APHR) , a conglomerate of nine civil society organisations, has expressed concern over the kidnapping of the resident Editor of daily Express Sohail Qalander and his friend Mohammad Niaz and urged the government to take steps for securing their safe release.

In a press release issued here on Monday, the APHR member organisations — Aurat Foundation, Noor Education Trust, ActionAid, Sustainable Participatory Organisation, Khwendo Kor, Sungi, Human Resource Management and Development Centre, Shirkat Gah and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan — deplored that Mr Qalander and Mr Niaz remained untraced 20 days after their kidnapping.

The organisations expressed resentment over poor law and order situation in the province, saying the delay on the part of the government in recovering the kidnapped men was a source of anguish and concern.

The APHR urged the government to realise its responsibility and take immediate steps for recovery of the journalist and his friend to end the ordeal of their families.

The 38-year-old journalist and his friend were kidnapped from Hayatabad on the night of Jan 2 and their vehicle was found abandoned.

Local journalists have constituted an action committee for expediting the efforts for the safe recovery of the kidnapped men.