Safe recovery: Kidnapped lawyer returns home

Ali Mutahir Shah was released by kidnappers, but his friend remains in captivity

SUKKUR: Advocate Ali Mutahir Shar, the son of Sindh High Court Sukkur additional advocate general Liaquat Shar, returned home safely on Saturday evening, after being held by kidnappers for 20 days. However, his friend Ali Gul*, who was kidnapped with him, remains in captivity.

According to reports, the kidnappers released Ali on the National Highway near Gambat on Saturday, from where he contacted his family and was brought back home to Khairpur. He and Kandhro had been kidnapped on September 14 while travelling from Khairpur to Bhit Shah in a car.

They were intercepted by armed men within the limits of Setharja police station and their car was found in the jurisdiction of Thari Mir Wah police station.

Senior advocate Shabbir Shar, when contacted, confirmed the safe recovery of his nephew Ali.

Criticising the police, he said that the law enforcement agencies had played no role in his return. "Instead, we contacted some influential persons and spent some money for his recovery," he said. He demanded that the police repay the ransom to them, saying that it was their duty to recover kidnapping victims.

Meanwhile, Khairpur SSP Nasir Aftab admitted that Ali's recovery was the result of joint efforts by the police and his family.

"I was not here, and in my absence, Shikarpur SSP Jawaid Jaskani supervised the operation and put pressure on the kidnappers by arresting their family members," he explained.

Responding to a question about where Ali had been held, he said that although he had returned home, he was not yet ready to answer such questions, adding that police would take his statement when he felt up to it.

*Names have been changed to protect identities

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2014.