Ex-spy held by militants demands help

A former spy in militant captivity threatened to expose the government's weaknesses if captor's demands are not met.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: An Associated Press report on Tuesday said a former Pakistani spy kidnapped by militants four months ago has threatened in a video to expose the government's "weaknesses" unless it frees prisoners to secure his release as demanded by his captors.

Sultan Amir Tarar, also known as Col Imam, did not provide further details in the video obtained by AP. But he likely possesses significant knowledge about his former employer, the country's most powerful spy agency, and its overseer, the military.

"You people are fully aware of the role I played for the nation and my country during my service," said Imam, reading from a written statement with two masked gunmen behind him. "But if the government of Pakistan does not care for me, I will also not care for it and will expose all its weaknesses."

AP reported that Imam said he was being held by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi al-Alami, believed to be an offshoot of an anti-Shia militant group that has increasingly set its sights on the government.

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi al-Alami has demanded that Pakistan release nearly 160 militants held in prison said the AP report.