QUETTA, Sept 22: Over Rs35 million was paid to Taliban militants for the release of three doctors belonging to Loralai, sources said on Sunday. They were set free on Saturday.

The government officials had claimed that the doctors were freed without payment of ransom to the kidnappers.

“There is no truth in the officials’ claim that the doctors have been freed after successful negotiations between local tribal elders and the militants and that no ransom amount was paid to the kidnappers,” the sources said, adding that the ransom amount of over Rs35m had been arranged by the doctors’ relatives and friends.

Loralai Civil Hospital MS Dr Mohammad Anwar Shabozai, Dr Nasrullah Ghalzai and cardiologist Dr Ayaz Ahmed had been kidnapped, along with two paramedical staff, by armed men in Gawal Ismailzai area of Qila Saifullah district on gunpoint on June 12 when they were going to Zhob.