Journalist kidnapped for ransom in Khairpur

Police register FIR, protests erupt, demanding safe recovery of Fayaz

HYDERABAD:

In the matter of kidnapping of a journalist for ransom in Khairpur district, police on Saturday registered an FIR on the complaint of brother, advocate Ishtiaq Hussain Solangi, nominating eight unknown suspects. Solangi stated that his brother Fayaz Solangi has been kidnapped with the intention of murder if they did not pay the demanded ransom.

Solangi, who worked for a Sindhi language news channel and newspaper, was kidnapped a week ago from Malhirani link road while returning home. On January 17 a video was posted on his Facebook account showing the partially bare-bodied journalist crying for safety of his life.

The family told the police that they have also received a ransom call and that the mobile number of Solangi was used for the purpose. The journalist's kidnapping has stirred protests of the corps in the province as media workers took to streets in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas and other big and small cities of the province.

After the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar took notice of the kidnapping, SSP Khairpur Touheed Rehman Memon visited Solangi's family in their village. He assured them that the police will ensure his early recovery from the kidnappers. However, such assurances are always taken with a pinch of salt in the districts of Sukkur and Larkana divisions where kidnappings for ransom have become commonplace.

Meanwhile, Khairpur Sahafi Ittehad blocked the National Highway in protest on Saturday, demanding safe and early recovery of Solangi. Ghulam Hussain Chang and other office bearers of the association blamed the police for initiating efforts to recover the journalist six days after his abduction when his video was viralled on social media. They warned that if he is not recovered in 24 hours they would up the ante of their protests.