Two journalists and their companion were Friday abducted by the local Taliban in Pakistan's Mohmand tribal region even as scribes expressed concern at the deteriorating law and order situation in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, says a Press Trust of India (PTI) report.
Reporter Pir Zubair Shah, photo-journalist Akhtar Soomro and Abdul Hassan, a leader of the local unit of the ruling Pakistan People's Party, were taken into captivity by the Taliban in Marbal Ziarat area of Mohmand Agency for taking photographs without seeking permission from the militants.
Rehman Malik, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior Affairs, asked the administration of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the political officials of the semi-autonomous Mohmand Agency to locate the missing men and to ensure their safe recovery.
Malik also directed authorities to track down the persons who had abducted the three men and to ensure their arrest. Local officials in Mohmand Agency said the kidnapped men would be recovered with the help of a tribal jirga.
Taliban spokesman Asad said the three men were picked up while taking pictures without permission from the militants. He said they were being interrogated at an undisclosed location about the purpose of their visit to the area.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has appealed to the kidnappers to release the men. "They are genuine journalists and journalism is their profession. On behalf of the entire Pakistani journalist community, we appeal to you to release them," PFUJ said in a statement.
