Good riddance: Taliban release Chitral man after eight months

Naik Tariq was released after his abductors were paid Rs6 million in ransom.

CHITRAL:

Naik Tariq Jalal-ud-Din, an official of the Chitral Scouts, who was abducted by the Taliban eight months ago in an attack on the scouts’ check post, was finally released on Friday after an arduous ordeal.

Tariq was held captive in Goordaish, Nuristan province of Afghanistan. Faqir Hussain, who was kidnapped along with Tairq was killed by the Taliban five months ago. Tariq was sent back to Kawati in Chitral district through the mountains from Gordaish. His brothers and relatives were on the scene to receive him.

Former nazim Abdul Majeed Qureshi and social worker Syed Ghani led the negotiations with the Taliban for his release. Qureshi told The Express Tribune that the militants were led by a commander named Ghazwan Swati. He said that “their initial demand was a ransom of Rs1 billion along with the release of 8 militants.” However, “after successful negotiations, they withdrew their demands of releasing the captured militants and lowered the asking sum to Rs6 million,” Qureshi added. The money was raised by the people of Chitral and Tariq’s relatives and was delivered via a courier. The former nazim claimed that “Tariq is in good health, but he cannot walk because of being chained continuously. The ordeal has also mentally exhausted him.”

While talking to journalists, the captive recalled that “he had lost the hope that he would live and re-unite with his family.” He added that in the eight months, they kept him at different places. “At night, they chained my feet and hands, but let me free for prayers.” Upon his return, locals welcomed him by showering him with flowers. An emotional Tariq commented that “for the sake of this land, I can sacrifice my life a thousand times.”

Kidnappings for ransom

As the security apparatus of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa groans under the weight of uninhibited terrorist atrocities, the province’s residents are left vulnerable to another menace: the rising trend of kidnappings for ransom.

Provincial police department data available with The Express Tribune shows that 1,338 people have been abducted across the province in the past three years. The highest number, 640, is from 2009 which is also considered one of the bloodiest year in the province’s history. There were 49 suicide attacks that killed 43 people on average every month. It appears that the bloodshed completely occupied the attention of security agencies, favouring kidnappers.  The numbers in 2010 and 2011, at 332 and 366, respectively, are much lower. So far, in three months of 2012, 72 people have been kidnapped.

“The year 2009 was the worst for law and order but since then, the situation has significantly improved. The number of kidnappers arrested and victims recovered by the police is higher now,” a police official told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity. (with additional reporting by riaz ahmad in peshawar)

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2012.