Safe recovery: Health EDO, two others released

Recovered from FR Bannu after being held captive for six days.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Executive District Officer (EDO) of Health Dr Ashiq Salim, his driver Javed and medical technician Attaullah, were released on Tuesday after having been kidnapped on December 12.

The three of them were kidnapped by unidentified assailants while travelling to DI Khan from Peshawar. Salim’s family said that he had contacted them after he had travelled through the Kohat Tunnel, but that was his last correspondence.

Attaullah was also the general secretary of the Paramedical Association DI Khan chapter. The DI Khan All Pakistan Medical Employees Association, Paramedical Association and All Pakistan Clerics Association had threatened to launch a protest for their recovery.

They were released on Tuesday by their kidnappers on Bannu-Miranshah Road in FR Bannu. After they were freed, they were taken to the local administration then allowed to go back to their families.

Salim, while talking to journalists, said that he was not sure where he was taken. “It might have been in North Wazirsitan,” he said, adding that he was happy that he was now back with his family.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2012.