Rising Kidnappings in NWFP

by MJK on January 11, 2009

The increase in kidnappings in NWFP is an alarming thing and we hear every second day that more and more people are kidnapped for ransom or for political reasons. You never realize the true intensity of the situation until someone from your close siblings faces such incident.

This morning when i was watching Geo TV, saw the news that the assistant political agent  Aamir Latif working in South Waziristan agency has been kidnapped while on his way to the meeting . The irony is the person is my first cousin and hence reading the news was a bit too shocking for my whole family. Since being a very young foreign qualified and PSP officer, i used to ask him for his guidance on career related issues. He has quickly climbed through the bureaucratic hierarchy and reached the important post of Assistant Political agent of a very important agency. I hope that he comes out safely from the hands of his captors and i also hope that our government wakes up to the foreign interference in our tribal areas who have taken these ruthless crimes to a new level. Without active backing from the terrorists intelligence agencies across the border in Afghanistan, it was not possible to stir so much unrest in NWFP. The irony is that even though Pakistan is suffering from these acts of terrorism, Pakistan is also blamed for it.

The kidnappers demand ransom amount which goes as high as 20 million rupees. I hope that our government reazlie the gravity of this situation where even women are not spared now, which was never the case in the province of NWFP.

WANA: Five armed men kidnapped Additional Political Agent Amir Latif of South Waziristan along with his driver in the presence of more than 20 security personnel on Sunday.
Political Agent Shahab Ali Shah who was in the same vehicle was unharmed, because the armed men didn’t recognise him. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
Mr Shah and additional political agent, escorted by more then 20 heavily-armed personnel, were proceeding from Wana to their office in the adjacent Tank district when five masked men intercepted their vehicle near Kerkena which is the area of Ahmadzai Wazir tribe. After a brief conversation, Mr Latif got down from the vehicle and the armed men bundled him and his driver into their car and sped away.
Political Agent Shahab Ali told Dawn by phone he was sitting behind when the armed men came in front of the vehicle, forcing it to stop.
He said that one of the armed men approached their vehicle and asked Amir Latif sitting beside the driver: “Who is political agent?” The additional political agent, according to Mr Shah, replied: “I am the political agent. What is your problem?”
The man said: “Fine, we were waiting for you, come with us.” The kidnappers put Mr Latif and the driver into their vehicle.
He said that security guards were about to act but Mr Latif stopped them because his life was in danger. — Correspondent

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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Ismail 01.11.09 at 6:53 pm

Well This is part of life nothing important

2 Asad 01.12.09 at 12:21 am

No it is not part of Life Ismail.
It is shocking.
I feel sorry for brave Amir Latif who said he is PA to save the actual Political Agent.
I pray for his safe recovery.
What is the govt doing, what is the army doing? how can we trust them.
God help Pakistan.

3 M Junaid Khan 01.12.09 at 5:19 am

Ismail i hope this part of life shines more on your side so that you can enjoy the life to its maximum potential. Aamir Latif showed his bravery by helping his senior officer escape and get himself into the hands of his enemies. This is called the true bravery shown by very few and exceptional people when faced with danger. We have seen incidents where the high sounding public figures run away to take shelter in foreign countries while here is another man who could have easily escaped this tragedy by just telling the truth or even staying quiet. But rarely you see courageous people like him.

4 Ismail 01.12.09 at 8:26 am

So what Aamir Latif has achieved ?….nothing ……….every one thinks in his own way …..I simply said it is a stupidity

5 asma 01.12.09 at 8:38 am

Shame on you Ismail! If you don’t have the guts to condemn what happened, don’t call it ‘part of life’. It is not only tragic but extremely saddening and upsetting to hear such news. My prayers and thoughts are with the families of Aamir Latif and his driver. I hope they are released unharmed as soon as possible. Pakistan is in dire need of such courageous people.

6 Abid 01.16.09 at 6:35 am

Having spent 2 years, as a good friend, with Amir in Australia, I am quite stressed to hear this. He is an outstanding professional and a sincere man. I do pray for his long and prosperous life. If anyone can post latest update on this issue, I would really appreciate that.

7 M Junaid Khan 01.16.09 at 8:23 am

Till date the attackers have not given any demands or contact the family members of this brave officer. As soon as we get any significant update, i will update you Abid.

8 Asad 01.21.09 at 9:51 am

I just read on BBC website the Aamir Latif has been released!
Very Very good news.
Gongratulations to him and his family and friends.

9 M Junaid Khan 01.21.09 at 10:18 am

Yups he has been released yesterday and we must appreciate our government for taking a strong stand on his case.

10 Chris Hayes 01.21.09 at 12:40 pm

Good news.

11 Asad 01.22.09 at 12:34 am

Yes government must be appreciated for this.
But shuould take strong actions like this in Swat and other troubled areas as well.

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