ISLAMABAD, July 1: The Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights chairman, Senator S. M. Zafar, and the committee members have expressed concern over a report by a TV channel that Amjad Hafeez, who was taken hostage in Iraq a few days ago, may be beheaded.

According to a press release, the standing committee chairman and its members asked the authorities concerned to get him released so that he returns to Pakistan and join his devastated family.

Viewing the incident purely on humanitarian grounds, the members of the committee felt that the act of releasing Amjad Hafeez will be in consonance with Islamic injunctions, Muslim sentiments and the brotherly relationship between the two countries, the press release said.

Senator S.M. Zafar pointed out that the mother of Mr Hafeez had already appealed to the international community as well as the hostage takers to spare the life of her son, who is the only bread earner of a poor family.