Kidnappers kill Ziarat assistant commissioner, son

In a gruesome incident, Ziarat Assistant Commissioner (AC) Muhammad Afzal and his son have been killed by kidnappers on Sunday. The victims were abducted last month from Zizri area of Ziarat district by unidentified gunmen.

The kidnappers recently released a video in which the hostages were seen pleading the authorities to take immediate measure for their release otherwise their captors’ were threatening to kill them.

Ziarat Deputy Commissioner Zakaullah confirmed that the AC and his son were kidnapped by the terrorists on August 10. A bounty of Rs50 million had been announced for the information leading to the identification or arrest of the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the killings, calling the slain officer and his son ‘martyr’. He praised the services of the AC and offered condolences to the bereaved family, saying Afzal attained martyrdom while fulfilling his official duties.

The minister said the slain AC was a dedicated and hardworking officer who would always be remembered. He added that those behind the murders would not escape the law.