GB minister abducted by armed men returns home

• Abducted Gilgit Baltistan minister returns home.
• Abaid ullah Baig was kidnapped from Babausar Road on Friday.
• Kidnappers had demanded release of their accomplices from jail.

SKARDU: Gilgit-Baltistan Prisons Minister Abaid ullah Baig, who was abducted by armed men from Babusar Road, has reached home, Geo News reported Saturday.

The minister was coming back to Skardu from Islamabad on Friday along with two foreigners when abducted by the terrorists demanding the release of their accomplices from jail, police sources told the TV channel.

Earlier, former GB government spokesperson Faizullah told Geo News that he has spoken to the minister and talks were underway for his release. Faizullah had said he is present at the Jirga where negotiations are held with kidnappers.

“Religious figures and elders are also here in Thak Jal,” he had added.

Abaid ullah Baig was elected from Hunza 6 on a PTI ticket.

What happened?

Sources privy to the matter claimed that GB's senior minister was released after successful negotiation with the abductors.

Relatives of six prisoners of Gilgit jail who were handed down jail terms on different charges blocked Shahra-e-Babusar to press authorities for their release, Geo News reported.

Babusar Road is one of the major arteries linking Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with GB.

Baig, who was travelling in a government vehicle, was also stuck in a traffic jam near Chilas. He was on his way from Islamabad to Gilgit.

Meanwhile, unidentified armed men arrived there and took him to a house. Later, he was shifted to another place.

Following this, local religious scholars and Jirga in Diamir intervened and contacted his abutters. After two-hour-long negotiations, the militants agreed to release the minister.

The militants were demanding the government release the six prisoners and impose a ban on women’s sports. His abductors handed him a paper inscribed with their demands.