TTP splinter group, al Qaeda behind Awais Shah kidnapping: DG ISPR

SHC CJ's son was recovered during an intelligence based operation in K-P early Tuesday

ISLAMABAD: The head of the military’s media wing on Tuesday said the son of Sindh High Court chief justice was kidnapped by elements of a TTP splinter group and al Qaeda.

Soldiers rescued Awais Ali Shah from his Taliban captors on Tuesday, after finding him bound in chains with his mouth taped shut and wearing in an all-enveloping burqa to hide his identity, Lt Gen Asim Bajwa told reporters, hours after the rescue operation.

Awais was kidnapped from outside a supermarket in Karachi on June 21.



Bajwa said three 'terrorists' were killed during the rescue, adding he was recovered from kidnappers who had made him wear a burqa in order to transport him around Dera Ismail Khan.

Sindh High Court chief justice hugs and kisses his son Awais Ali Shah following the latter's recovery. PHOTO: ISPR

He said an ambush was foiled in DI Khan at an intersection on the way to Tank.

Bajwa told reporters the operation took place at approximately 2:00am near the town of Tank, when the kidnappers were transporting Shah, possibly with a view to transferring him to Afghanistan.

Mufti Mehmood Chowk has three different entry points which we covered in its entirety, he continued. “Intelligence was in the lead of the operation.”

“An FC wing was also deployed on one of the routes,” the DG ISPR said. “A blue coloured vehicle was seen approaching and a soldier attempted to stop the car but the driver tried to escape on the dual carriageway.”



“The driver was shot dead after which the car came to a halt,” he added.

The forces, he said, approached the car and questioned the person inside the vehicle who was wearing a burqa.

“When no response was heard, the veil was lifted and his mouth was taped and hands and feet chained,” he continued. Awais then provided details of his identity and he was taken to safety, added Bajwa.

"Whatever high profile kidnappings they did, they had a purpose. They wanted to spread terror," said Bajwa, referring to kidnappings of Ali Haider Gilani, Shahbaz Taseer and Awais Shah.

"I want to salute the affected families. They have faced this challenge with perseverance, and ultimately all three cases were recovered."

[/fbvideo]