Operation under way for footballers’ recovery

Five footballers were abducted from Dera Bugti while en route to qualify for Balochistan Chief Minister Gold Cup

ISLAMABAD:

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Sunday said that an operation for the recovery of five footballers, who were kidnapped on Saturday in the Dera Bugti area of Balochistan, was under way.

The footballers were abducted as they were going to Sibi to qualify for the Balochistan Chief Minister Gold Cup.
The players were identified as Aamir Bugti, Faisal Bugti, Sohail Bugti, Yasar Bugti and Sheraz Bugti.

After their abduction, the caretaker Balochistan home minister said security forces had launched a search operation, adding that the operation was suspended due to nightfall and sensitivity in the area, but would resume Sunday morning.

The interim interior minister said that an operation was launched to recover the players. Bugti said teams of Frontier Corps, deputy commissioner, commissioner and Levies Force were working to trace the suspects.

According to the interior ministry’s post on social media website X, all resources were being employed for the recovery of the players and directives had been issued to all relevant departments for their recovery.