QUETTA: Security forces have failed to find the 10 people who had been kidnapped from a picnic spot in Harnai a few days ago.

In all, 14 picnickers were abducted by armed militants after separating them from a crowd after checking identity cards at Shaban picnic point in Zarghoon Ghar area of Harnai district.

According to Levies Force personnel, the armed men had taken positions on the nearby hills before the kidnapping. However, they freed four persons in the mountainous area and later aba­ndoned their vehicle.

Among those kidnapped were Mohammad Hamza and Moha­mmad Haris, both hailing from Multan; four brothers namely Hassan Raza, Rehan Raza, Farhan Raza and Mohammad Raza, residents of Quetta; Jahanzeb, a resident of Sadiqabad; and a Customs official Abdul Baseer Durrani, belonging to Quetta. The identity of other two is yet to be ascertained, according to officials.

They said efforts were underway to free all the 10 people as security forces were conducting a search operation.

The banned outfit, BLA, had claimed responsibility for the kidnappings.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

PM spurned
Updated 28 Jun, 2024

PM spurned

The PM must ensure PTI is allowed to function just like any other political party while the latter must not set rigid conditions.
Gaza’s journalists
28 Jun, 2024

Gaza’s journalists

Israel does not want other voices to be heard, and is adamant on spinning its blood-soaked campaign in Gaza as a ‘just war’.
Chinese industries
28 Jun, 2024

Chinese industries

PRIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif appears to be pushing the rusty bureaucratic machinery hard to turn nearly three dozen...
Positive feelers
Updated 27 Jun, 2024

Positive feelers

New Delhi’s negotiators should adopt a less rigid stance if they are at all serious about regional peace.
Polio problem
27 Jun, 2024

Polio problem

SIX cases in six months. The tally for the entire last year equalled in half the time. Pakistan’s efforts towards...
Battle against heat
27 Jun, 2024

Battle against heat

DO the rulers have what it takes to protect citizens from sizzling temperatures? Apathetic and myopic, they have...