Activists from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), National Party (NP) and traders staged the demonstration on the highway, demanding safe and early release of former union council nazim Ali Ahmed Kandrani, who was kidnapped by armed men about two months ago.
Irate protesters also burnt tyres and shouted slogans against the government for its failure to ensure protection of life and property of the common man.
Addressing the protesters, PML-N leader Mir Attaullah Khan, tribal elder Mir Raja Khan Kandrani and NP leader Abdul Rasool Baloch said that kidnapping for ransom had become a lucrative business in Jaffarabad and was supported by influential people.
“Traders, political leaders and truckers are not spared and are kidnapped in broad daylight. It seems that police are supporting these gangs since no serious action has been taken against them yet,” a protester complained.
“Many people were kidnapped and then freed by their captors after receiving a huge sum of money as ransom. We will launch a protest campaign across the province if the situation does not change,” another protester added.
Hundreds of vehicles were unable to reach their destinations due to the suspension of traffic, which caused inconvenience to travellers for several hours.
A complete shutter-down strike was also observed in different towns of Jaffarabad including Dera Allahyar, Sohbatpur, Panwar Sinari, Majipur, Gora Nari and adjacent areas to condemn the kidnappings.
Political parties and traders of Dera Allahyar warned that protests will intensify if concrete steps are not taken to bust the gangs involved in kidnappings.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2012.
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