Salman Taseer’s abducted son recovered from Balochistan

QUETTA: Intelligence agencies on Tuesday recovered abducted son of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer from Kuchlak area of Balochistan, more than four years after he was kidnapped from Lahore.

Shahbaz Taseer was kidnapped from Lahore on Aug 26, 2011 near his company’s head office in Gulberg few months after assassination of his father SalmanTaseer at the hands of his body guard Mumtaz Qadri.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), media wing of the army, confirmed Shahbaz Taseer was recovered in a raid carried out in Kuchlak. Anwarul Haq, spokesman for the Balochistan government said Shabaz Taseer is safe and sound, and a decision to shift him to Lahore will be made soon," he said, adding that the raid was conducted between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm. 

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also confirmed the news while speaking in the Senate. A senior police official said Taseer was recovered during a raid jointly conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and intelligence agencies near Quetta.

Shahbaz Taseer eats at a restaurant in Kuchlak?

Owner of a restaurant named Al Saleem Hotel located in Kuchlak told Geo News that around 5:00 pm a man attired in grey shalwar kameez, who is believed to be Shahbaz Taseer, came and ate at his restaurant. He said after having eaten his meal and paying Rs350 bill, he asked for a phone to make a call to Lahore. 

Looking at his shabby condition with long hair and beard, the hotel owner refused to give him his phone. Later, Shahbaz Taseer walked out of the restaurant and made a call from outside. After a short while FC personnel took him along with them.

Shahbaz Taseer is said to have been kidnapped by operatives of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi before being handed over to al-Qaeda and the Taliban in northwestern tribal areas of the country.

Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan People’s Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari congratulated the Tsaeer family over the recovery of Shahbaz Taseer.

Yousuf Raza Gilani said after learning about the recovery of Shahbaz Taseer he telephoned his younger brother and congratulated him and his family.

Speaking to media persons, Gilani said his son Ali Haider Gilnai was also kidnapped in 2013 and continues to remain in abduction till today.

In a statement issued by the PPP media cell, Bilawal Bhutto telephoned Sharyar Taseer and also demanded recover of Gilani’s son. Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Malala Yousafzai and others also congratulated the Taseer family over the recovery of Shahbaz Taseer.