Missing medics: Three doctors kidnapped in Balochistan

The medics along with two support staff were on their way to Zhob from Loralai when they all disappeared.

QUETTA:

Three doctors were among five people kidnapped in Balochistan while travelling towards Zhob from Loralai district on Thursday.

Zhob borders with the lawless tribal region of Wazirstan.

Levies’ officials said that the five people included three doctors identified as Dr Muhammad Anwar Shabuzai, Dr Muhammad Hayat and Dr Nasrullah. Also travelling with them were a clerk Farooq and a driver. They disappeared mysteriously during the journey.

Assistant Commissioner Loralai district Habibur Rehman not only confirmed the abduction of doctors and two of their support staff but also established that they had been taken away from Karh Cross.

“They left for Zhob at 1:30 pm and were kidnapped at Karh Cross,” Rehman said, adding that Karh Cross was situated on the border between Qila Abdullah and Zhob districts.

Family members of the missing doctors have approached Levies authorities in Loralai and Zhob and lodged a First Information Report (FIR)

“The missing doctors were visiting Zhob to offer condolences for Dr Haleem Taj, who died a couple of days back,” a Levies official said, adding that one of the abductees, Dr Anwar Shabuzai, is medical superintendent Civil Hospital Loralai.



A manhunt has been mounted to track down the kidnappers but so far, without success. “It could be a case of kidnapping for ransom but so far nobody has contacted family members of the missing men,” levies officials added.

District Zhob borders with the tribal region Wazirstan and incidents of kidnapping for ransom in the area are common. Just three months back unidentified men had kidnapped former Prosecutor General Wasay Tareen from the adjoining district of Sherani. They later set him free.

A Swiss couple, Olivier David Och, 31, and Daniela Widmer, 28, were abducted in July 2011 by Taliban while travelling in Balochistan’s Loralai district situated 170 km east of Quetta.

They were shifted to Wazirstan tribal region and were finally set free after eight months of ordeal.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Medical Association’s spokesperson Dr Shahzada has expressed serious concern over the kidnapping. He said that one doctor Mubashir was already kidnapped from Chaman and still remains missing.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2013.