Twenty-two police officers who were abducted by unidentified armed men last Friday in Mastung district of Pakistan’s Balochistan province have been released.
Rafiq Hamza, Deputy Superintendent of Police in Mastung, confirmed the release of the officers but did not provide details about the circumstances or location of their release.
According to reports, the officers were travelling in a passenger vehicle from Kalat to Nushki on Friday afternoon when armed men riding motorcycles stopped their vehicle near the Kardgap area of Mastung district and abducted all 22 officers. The driver and three other passengers were released later.
According to the released officers, the abductors blindfolded them and took them to an undisclosed location. They said the armed men beat them on the first day and demanded that they quit their jobs in the police force. The abductors subsequently recorded videos of them.
The officers said they were kept hungry for much of their captivity and were given very little water. They added that on Sunday, during the afternoon prayer, they were taken out of their hideout and, after a lengthy journey, abandoned in a deserted area.
According to the report, three pickup trucks later arrived at the location and transported the released officers to Quetta. There, security forces conducted preliminary questioning before allowing them to return to their homes.
Among those abducted were 21 former Levies personnel who had been integrated into the police force following the merger of the police and Levies forces. They were undergoing training at the police training centre in Kalat and were travelling home for their weekly leave. A trainer was also among those abducted.
Armed groups known as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) are active in areas surrounding Mastung and Kalat. However, neither group has so far claimed responsibility for the abduction of the 22 police officers.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
