Two missing Zardari aides freed

Anti-Violence Crime Cell with support of intelligence agencies recover Ashfaq Leghari and Ghulam Qadir Marri: sources

KARACHI: Ashfaq Leghari and Rais Gulham Mari Khan, both close friends of former president Asif Ali Zardari, who had gone missing from Sindh a few weeks ago, were recovered from the captivity of kidnappers during a joint operation in Baluchistan.

“(Personnel of) the Anti Violent Crime Cell (AVCC), a special cell of Karachi police, have recovered two high-profile abductees – Ashfaq Leghari and Ghulam Qadir Mari – from Turbat, Mand area of Balochistan with the active support of intelligence agencies,” AVCC chief SSP Tariq Dharejo told media persons here.

Both missing men had been abducted from Karachi and Jamshoro, respectively.

“The (intelligence) agencies helped in tracking and cornering kidnappers … Both abductees were freed after hard bargaining,” Dharejo said.



The kidnapped men, who were initially in the custody of AVCC, were later allowed to go home after completion of legal formalities.

SSP Dharejo said that in the case of Ashfaq Leghari, a ransom call was received, which helped in locating his whereabouts.

“The support of Baluchistan’s intelligence agencies was vital in solving the crime,” he insisted.

Two drivers and a gunman of Rais Gulham Mari Khan were also recovered. However, no arrest was made.

Mari, a landlord from Tando Allahyar, had gone missing while travelling between Sehwan and Hyderabad along with his guard and a driver. While Leghari, a former chief of the Sindh People’s Students Federation (SPSF), had gone missing from Gadap Town in Karachi.



Meanwhile, convener of the campaign launched for the recovery of both kidnap victims, Agha Tanveer Iqbal, confirmed their release.

Expressing relief, he said: “We announce the release and recovery of Rais Gulham Mari Khan from kidnappers in Balochistan … He has returned safely,” he said. “We would like to thank all those who were directly responsible for the safe return of Mari Khan, including police and intelligence agencies.”

He said that they were grateful “to our international friends, “especially the British Prime Minister, Lord Duncan, Lord Nazir Ahmed, Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in UK Chaudhry Hafeez, British Commonwealth and Foreign Office, ILCUK British lawyers also print and electronic media for listening to our concerns.”

Zardari had directly accused the federal interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of allegedly kidnapping his personal friends.

The Sindh High Court had recently ordered to form a joint investigation team in this regard.