Efforts underway for release of abducted individuals

ISLAMABAD:

Security forces and government efforts are underway to secure the release of individuals kidnapped by khwarjis in Lakki Marwat, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

According to security sources, khwarjis had abducted workers associated with a mining project in the Kabul Khel area of Lakki Marwat on January 9. The workers were on their way to work when the terrorists had intercepted their vehicle and kidnapped them.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) later released a video of the kidnapped individuals, demanding that the government meet their terms.

However, in an attempt to increase pressure on the government, the khwarjis killed one of the hostages. They then forced another hostage to record a video falsely claiming that the victim had been killed in an airstrike.

On January 25, the terrorists handed over the body of the victim and another hostage to the elders of the Kabul Khel tribe and falsely claimed that the death had resulted from a security forces' airstrike. However, the claim was completely baseless and a clear act of defamation.

A swift search operation by the security forces then successfully rescued eight of the 16 hostages while the remaining individuals are still in the custody of the khwarjis. Efforts are ongoing to ensure their safe release.