QUETTA, April 7 Iftikharul Haq, a prominent lawyer who had been kidnapped 22 days ago, returned home on Wednesday night. He was abducted by armed men from Fatima Jinnah Colony area when he was returning home after dropping his children at school on March 17.

Lawyers held a number of demonstrations in protest against the kidnapping of their colleague.

Mr Haq said he did not pay any ransom to the kidnappers who dropped him on a road in the night.

A large number of lawyers gathered at Mr Haq's residence and congratulated him on his safe release.

Balochistan Bar Association president Baz Mohammad Kakar said the kidnappers had freed Mr Haq because of the pressure of the lawyers' community. He said the government and police had no role in the lawyer's release, adding that no ransom was paid to the kidnappers.