Shahani's presence in Wana denied

Published February 1, 2004

PESHAWAR, Jan 31: Assistant Political Agent Wana (South Waziristan Agency), Rehmat Ullah Wazir, has contradicted reports that abducted Punjab minister Naeemullah Shahani was present in Wana.

Talking to reporters of South Waziristan Agency by telephone, he said that reports about the presence of the Punjab minister in Wana were not true.

According to the record of checkpoints on entry and exit points of South Waziristan Agency, the minister didn't enter the agency.

Furthermore, he added, during a search operation launched here, "no clue has been found" about the presence of Mr Shahani in the agency.

However, he continued, the political administration "has launched frantic efforts for the recovery of the missing minister."

He said thousands of Khasadar force and tribal elders had been alerted. -APP