PESHAWAR: The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, on Tuesday, threatened to kill eight kidnapped employees of the Gomal Zam Dam project by December 3, if the government fails to meet their ‘demands.’
A video, which shows the kidnapped men seeking the government’s help and relaying the militants’ message, was released on Tuesday by the TTP – giving the government six days to react.
One of the kidnapped engineers, Shahid Ali Khan is seen speaking in the video, which has the TTP’s name written in the background, as well as gun-toting men whose faces cannot be seen.
The eight officials were kidnapped from Tank-Wana road as they were on their way from Gomal Zam Dam to Dera Ismail Khan for Eid-ul-Fitr holidays on August 15. Besides Sub-Divisional Officer Shahid Ali Khan, a resident of Swat, and Sub-Engineer Sanaullah the abducted men also include four security personnel and two other staffers.
The 46-minute video shows Khan narrating his ordeal in Urdu and the militants’ demands for their release, however, the nature of their demands remains unknown.
In the video, he says: “Assalam-o-Alaikum, my parents and friends, I am Shahid Ali Khan, we are recording this video on November 23, 2012 and December 3 2012 is our deadline. If the government of Pakistan does not accept the demands, we will be killed. I am requesting the government, specially the Wapda high officials and the political agents South Waziristan Agency to take measures for our release and accept the demands of Therik-i-Taliban Pakistan because we have been living the most difficult days of lives here. Thank you.”
Security forces had managed to recover the vehicle of the kidnapped workers from Neeli Kach area of South Waziristan.
Local political administration have also held a number of jirgas (tribal council) of Mehsud tribesmen to discuss the means for the safe recovery of the eight men.
While no concrete demands have been put forth in this video from the militants, sources said that the TTP include release of prisoners and ransom money of more than Rs.100 million.
