Hostages’ families on tenterhooks

Victims held captive for over 20 days now

LODHRAN:

Kidnappers of two men who they kidnapped last month are subjecting their victims to torture and then sending their videos to their families to pressure them into accepting their demand for ransom.

In one such video, the victims are seen hanging from a tree with their hands and feet tied with chains.

The families of the victims do not have the means to meet the kidnappers’ demands, and their only hope of seeing their loved ones returning home is pinned on the police. However, the family of one of the victims, Gulsher, appeared to have become restless and accuse police of apathy.

Now, they have come out onto the streets and protested against the district police, accusing them of not taking any notice of their misery. The protesters said that the kidnappers were demanding Rs10 million for releasing their loved ones.

The demonstrators demanded of the Punjab chief minister to take notice of the incident and order immediate arrest of the suspects.

Falak Sher, a brother of one of the victims, Gul Sher, said that his brother had seen a post on social media about a tractor being offered for sale at a cheaper price. He got interested in the offer and took Rs200,000 and left for Rahim Yar Khan with his friend, Muhammad Riaz, on October 19, said Falak Sher.

The following day their phones were found to have been switched off, he said. Then came a call from the kidnappers through which they demanded ransom, he said. Falak Sher said that he received a video showing the kidnappers torturing their victims. He said he had been warned by the kidnappers of the consequences of their demand not being met.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2022.