Abdullah Jan, ex-Balochistan Higher education secretary, has been released by kidnappers who had abducted him on 15 March.
After more than 4 months of detention Mr. Jan was released near Noshki, 96km away from capital city of Quetta. He traveled on public transport to be united with his family. “He was given 1000rs by kidnappers to use for transport fares on way to home,” Mr. Jan’s family confirmed.
According to reports PKR200 million was paid as ransom for the release. However, Mr. Jan’s elder son Atique rejected the reports as false.
Kidnappings have escalated alarmingly since last four years in Balochistan. Many businessmen and rich people have been abducted for ransom and often killed if a deal has not struck between the kidnappers and the family.
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have also accused Pakistan of abducting thousands of Baloch activists. Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, a rights group formed by family members of abducted activists, say at least 15,000 Baloch men, women and children have gone missing in last one and half decades.