Final journey: Five traders laid to rest in Charsadda Graveyard

Three others still missing; motive behind kidnapping remains unknown

CHARSADDA: Five Pakistani traders, whose bodies were handed over to the khasadar force at the Torkham border post by Afghan authorities a day earlier, were laid to rest in Charsadda Graveyard on Thursday.

The men worked in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan and were among the nine people abducted by unidentified militants from Marko, Mohmand Dara district two months ago. Their bodies were found in Bati Kot area on Wednesday after which they were handed over to the khasadar force.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Prang SHO Imran Mohmand said the men worked as traders and had been abducted in February. “The kidnappers had released Lehaz Gul, a resident of Shabqadar, while the other eight Pakistanis were in their custody,” he added.

According to the official, five bullet-riddled bodies were brought to Charsadda on Wednesday night.

“The other three men are still missing,” the SHO said. “At this stage, there is no demand for their release.”

Searching for answers

Relatives of the deceased have yet to find out the motive behind the kidnapping of their loved ones.

Muhammad Ali—whose brothers, Ahmad Ali and Ubaidullah, and uncle Rahatullah, were among the traders who were abducted—said he had tried his best to trace the whereabouts of his relatives.

“My brothers and uncle were mustard oil and pickle traders and were kidnapped from a guest house in Mohmand Dara,” Muhammad said. “We failed to find them and don’t know the motive behind the kidnapping.”

Ahmad Ali and Rahatullah’s bodies were handed over to the family while Ubaidullah’s whereabouts remain unknown.

According to Muhammad, ‘middlemen’ who claim to have contacts with the kidnappers had demanded Rs5 million as ransom for the release of their loved ones but the family was unable to pay the amount.

However, SHO Mohmand said no such demands had been made. “On the contrary, well-placed officials have vowed to help us guarantee the release of the other three traders,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2015.