Last resort: Man threatens to set himself on fire if family not rescued

He says the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of Rs10 million

KOHISTAN:

In an act of desperation, a man threatened to set himself alight in front of the Parliament House in Islamabad if his mother and younger brother, both kidnapped for ransom, are not recovered within 24 hours.

Threatening self immolation, Waqar Ahmed Jan, who had been in Saudi Arabia for three years, said his brother Sajjad Ahmed Jan, 16, and their mother Youn Zehra, 45, were headed to Islamabad in a coaster on November 9. He claimed when the bus reached Pattan city, Ali Dad, Master Mir Afzal and four others from Kohistan stopped it and forced his mother and brother out.

Waqar said the kidnappers later contacted his brother Junaid and demanded a ransom of Rs10 million. Junaid lodged an online FIR, but the Kohistan police failed to take any action. Waqar said his brother also called Lower Kohistan DPO Irshad Khan, who said a financial dispute between their father Jan Muhammad and a retired health department employee was the motive behind the kidnapping.



Waqar said he flew back to Gilgit and contacted the DPO again. The officer asked him to visit the police station and sign the complaint. However, he alleged Khan changed his tune at the police station and said he would try to resolve the matter through a jirga.

Waqar said the amount was revised to Rs 5.5 million as he could not pay the original figure demanded. He feared the kidnappers could harm his brother and ailing mother.

He feared the delay in treatment could cause further health complications. Waqar clarified he did not want to resolve the matter through a jirga, adding the kidnappers wanted to save their skin by having the complaint withdrawn in exchange for the safe release of his mother and brother.

“I just want them back home safely without paying ransom. We want justice to prevail,” he said.

Waqar reiterated if his loved ones were not rescued within 24 hours, he would set himself on fire in front of the Parliament and the DPO of Lower Kohistan would be responsible for his actions.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2014.