Homecoming : Kidnapped doctors released from North Waziristan

Return home after ransom was paid by their parents.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Four doctors kidnapped last week from the Bannu-DI Khan Road near Taja Zai in Lakki Marwat were set free on Monday after ransom was paid for their release.

Dr Farmanullah of Karak district, Dr Khalid Mehmood of Peshawar, Dr Asadullah of Bannu district and Dr Rahim Gul of Parachinar went missing on May 21 while en route to DI Khan from Peshawar to attend a laptop distribution ceremony at District Headquarters and Teaching Hospital.



When they did not reach their destination the next day, they were suspected to have been kidnapped. Ghazni Khel police station officials said a search operation was conducted for their recovery but their whereabouts could not be ascertained. The district government of Bannu, DI Khan and Lakki Marwat were also informed of the incident and an operation was underway to recover the kidnapped men. However, according to the Ghazni Khel police, little progress had been made as there were no clues left behind.

However, the doctors returned home on Monday after being set free from the volatile North Waziristan Agency where they were shifted to after being kidnapped by unidentified gunmen. The ransom demanded by the kidnappers was paid by their parents.

The doctors are graduates of Gomal Medical College and are currently doing their house jobs at the Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2013