Czech hostages shown alive in Pakistan

Relatives of two Czech women kidnapped in Pakistan in March released a new video that showed them asking Czech authorities to take action to free them.

The video of Hana Humpa­lova and Antonie Chrastecka was made in late August and delivered to the Czech embassy in Islamabad, Czech foreign ministry spokeswoman Johana Grohova told reporters.

The video offers no indication of the kidnappers’ identity. Chrastecka asked Czech authorities to work with the Pakistani government to help her ‘go home’.

The Czech foreign ministry also released a video of their mothers asking the kidnappers to treat them well. The 24-year-old psychology students were kidnapped on March 13 while being escorted by a tribal policeman after crossing into Pakistan from Iran.

In another video released in June, the women asked for the release of Aafia Siddiqui, jailed in the US on charges of terrorist links. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2013.