ANP spox, who went missing 5 months back, found dead

The body of Awami National Party (ANP) spokesperson Asad Khan Achakzai, who went missing five months ago, was recovered from the Quetta International Airport (QIA) area on Saturday, local police confirmed.

A team of police officials headed by a magistrate identified the body and shifted it to Civil Hospital, Quetta. According to reports, Achakzai’s body was recovered on the information provided by a kidnapper, who was arrested a few days ago by the Quetta police. During interrogation, the kidnapper spilled the beans. Authorities revealed that the ANP leader was shot and killed on the day of his abduction. ANP Central Joint Secretary Rashid Khan Nasir confirmed the “martyrdom” of the party spokesperson. At the time when the ANP spokesperson was abducted by unidentified individuals, the party’s provincial leaders blocked the Chaman-Quetta Highway, which resulted in food shortage in the city.

However, the highway was later reopened on humanitarian grounds and protests were shifted outside the Chaman deputy commissioner office. ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan had previously condemned the abduction of the party’s provincial information secretary. According to the ANP chief, Achakzai was on his way from Chaman to attend a provincial council meeting when all contacts with him were lost near the town of Kuchlak. Holding the government responsible, Asfandyar said it was the responsibility of the state to protect its citizens and called on the authorities for Achakzai’s prompt recovery