PESHAWAR, Dec 12: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday directed the federal government to recover the eight kidnapped employees of Wapda, working at Gomal Zam Dam project at the time of their abduction, through holding negotiations with the militants within a week.

The court directed the government to conduct targeted operation for recovery of the kidnapped employees if the negotiations didn’t bear fruits.

The bench comprising PHC Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth ordered that federal government, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor, Fata additional chief secretary, the sector commander concerned and political agent should take practical measures for their release and submit report to the court on Sept 19.

The secretary law and order of Fata Secretariat, Jamal Nasir, informed the court that the kidnappers had demanded Rs150 million along with setting free 17 detained militants for release of the kidnapped employees.

The conditions were not acceptable to the government, he said. He added that around 21 militant groups were operational in tribal areas and kidnapping for ransom was one of the major sources of their finances.

Mr Nasir said that initially the kidnapped workers were kept in South Waziristan Agency but government received reports that they were shifted to North Waziristan.

He said that they were also in touch with the general officer commanding of the area in that regard.

The PHC chief justice observed that the writ of the government had vanished in tribal areas for all practical purposes resulting in strengthening of militants, who were engaged in illegal activities including kidnapping for ransom.

He observed that some high ranking officials were also involved in such cases owing to which no proper action could be taken against the kidnappers.

The workers were kidnapped by militants when they were on their way to Tank district from the dam site in South Waziristan on Aug 15. The militants also released two video footages, showing the eight employees pleading the government to accept the demands of the kidnappers.

The kidnapped men include Engineer Shahid Ali Khan, a mechanical supervisor Sanaullah, a cook Munir Khan, driver Siraj, a sanitation staffer Liaqat Khan and three other daily wage workers identified as Zeeshan, Zujaj and Siraj.

Mr Nasir told the court that so far they had conducted seven jirgas for the release of the kidnapped persons. He claimed that in past militants used to receive funds from abroad but after imposition of restrictions by the government that channel dried up so they indulged in kidnapping for ransom.

He stated that the tribal administration did not possess such a large amount to pay for the release of the kidnapped employees.

PHC Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan observed that if any minister or influential person was kidnapped he would have been so far recovered by the government by paying the money.

He expressed anguish that Islamia College University Vice-chancellor Ajmal Khan was kidnapped two years ago and so far he could not be recovered because he was an educationist and not a minister.

When the chief justice asked as to when the intelligence network of the government was doing good then why the kidnapped persons could not be recovered through targeted operation, the secretary replied that they feared that the kidnapped workers might be harmed by their captors in case of an operation.

The relatives of the kidnapped employees had sent an application to PHC chief justice few days ago that was converted into a writ petition.

The militants had earlier set a deadline of Dec 3 for killing of the kidnapped persons, but on the request of their family members the deadline was relaxed.