Parents of Pakistani national abducted in Nigeria appeal to COAS for son's release

The parents of PhD scholar Dr Abuzar Muhammad Afzal, who was kidnapped in Nigeria along with over 60 others, have appealed to the Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa to work for the release of his son on humanitarian grounds.

"We are hoping that with your efforts our son will safely reach Pakistan soon," they said while talking to The Express Tribune.

They said that Dr Abuzar was abducted on March 28 from the African country, adding that the former federal government of PTI did nothing for the release of their son.

"The life of our son is in grave danger, therefore, we requested Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, COAS General Qamar, Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to contact Nigerian government for the freedom of their son," they pleaded.

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The parents of Dr Abuzar said that the kidnappers have given a seven-day deadline and three days have already passed. "We hope that by the efforts of everyone, our son will soon be among us," they added.

Dr Abuzar had a PhD in Microbiology from Faisalabad and had been serving an international company in Nigeria as general manager.

Dr Abuzar is held hostage along with over 60 other people by a Nigerian terrorist group, with kidnapers issuing a deadline for the approval of their demands.

In a terrifying video, the Pakistani national had pleaded to the government and the world to help them.
Abuzar had said that the kidnappers made it clear that if their demands were not met within six days, all the hostages would be killed, adding that they were abducted on March 28.

"I work for a company called Jay Marines. 62 people including me have been abducted. We are in a very difficult situation," he was quoted as saying.

Abuzar had urged the governments of Pakistan and Nigeria and the international community to make immediate efforts for their release.