Gomal Zam Dam kidnapping: Ansar Burney arrives in provincial capital to expedite recovery of abducted men

Rights activist appeals to the militants, says family members cannot afford to pay Rs160 million.

PESHAWAR: After a lapse of six months since eight Wapda employees were kidnapped from the Gomal Zam Dam site, and the ensuing appeals of their family members, human rights activist Ansar Burney arrived in Peshawar to look into efforts made for their recovery.

Upon his arrival on Wednesday, Burney met the Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Khalid Rabbani and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kausar at the Governor House to discuss the issue with them.

Later in a news conference at the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) House, Burney appealed to the militants to release the kidnapped workers on humanitarian grounds. Wapda’s security officer Colonel Abdul Mateen was also present on the occasion.

“I beg the Taliban to be humane to the suffering families,” said Burney, adding it would be great if the militants release the men without ransom.

“However, if they demand compensation for the money they have spent on the abducted men, then they should tell us that amount and we will give it to them.”

Burney said the families could not afford to pay the Rs160 million demanded by the kidnappers and the amount should be reduced. “I am ready for talks,” he said, adding that authorities would wait for three days for a response from the kidnappers.

He clarified that if the militants want the money they would have to release all eight kidnapped workers alive.

Zeeshan Khan, Shahid Ali, Zijaj, Siraj, Munir, Liaquat, Mushtaq and Sanaullah were kidnapped on August 15, 2012 while returning to DI Khan to celebrate Eidul Fitr with their families. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility and said one of the men had been slain.

But for the families of these Wapda employees, Ansar Burney is a fresh beacon of hope. Relatives of the kidnapped men present at the conference said they have approached every concerned quarter for the release of their loved ones.

They said they have held protests, press conferences and even hunger strikes to attract the attention of authorities.

The parents of Munir and Siraj reportedly passed away while grieving and awaiting the return of their sons. Sanaullah’s wife said they have been deprived of the head of the family and face increasing hardships every day. Skeptical of the response of officials, she questioned what ‘soon’ meant as six months had already passed since the incident.

Others said they rush to police stations whenever they hear the news of a body being found, dreading to see the face of one of their loved ones.

“When we heard about the nine bodies recovered near Miranshah in North Waziristan, we were devastated,” said Shahid’s wife, adding that Shahid’s mother recently suffered a heart attack for the same reasons.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2013.