MIRANSHAH, Dec 6: Authorities in North Waziristan have not been able to trace the whereabouts of a local journalist who was kidnapped on Monday. Speaking to a delegation from the Tribal Union of Journalists on Tuesday, North Waziristan’s political agent Zaheerul Islam said that although investigators had not yet reached any conclusions it was possible that "Taliban elements" had a hand in the kidnapping of Hayatullah Khan.
Mr Islam told journalists that investigations were under way to trace the whereabouts of Hayatullah and promised them that the government would provide security to local journalists and enable them to continue their professional duties.
Unidentified gunmen kidnapped Mr Hayatullah near the town of Mirali on Monday. According to sources, Mr Hayatullah had been captured sometime ago by allied forces in Angor Adda in the South Waziristan Agency. He was kept in detention for two months at Bagram airbase.
The North Waziristan Union of Journalists has condemned My Hayatullah’s kidnapping and appealed to the government to ensure his safe recovery. The journalists’ body has asked the administration to arrest the culprits and provide security to journalists in the agency.
