Kidnappers demand release of 12 to free envoy Envoy

PESHAWAR—Taliban Militants have tied kidnapped Pakistan’s Ambassador, Azizuddin fate with the release of their 12 comrades including khateeb Lal Masjid, Maulana Abdul Aziz, Maulana Sufi, Head of the Tehrik-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat Muhammadi and those arrested on the alleged charges of assassinating Benazir Bhutto.
While on the other hand local militants organization in Pakistan has once against expressed its total ignorance about the matter and said that they are ready for every kind of cooperation for the release of abducted Ambassador on the request of Government.
One of the tribal notable on the condition of anonymity told BBC that it is not ascertained yet that where the kidnapped Pakistani envoy was kept neither they have any information that who are the kidnappers.
He said that they have demanded release of five key leaders of Taliban but did not mentioned their names. However, the names of Pakistani demanded by them includes khateeb Lal Masjid, Maulana Abdul Aziz, Maulana Sofi, Head of the Tehrik-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat Muhammadi, Sheer Zaman Mehsood, Rafaqat, Hussnain, Aitzaz Shah and Noor Khan.
The exchange of the Taliban with kidnapped Pakistani envoy reveals that majority of these Taliban have some traits with Pakistani Taliban Commander, Baitullah Mehsood.
However, Spokesman Tehrik-e-Taliban, Maulvi Umar while talking to BBC has rejected allegations of kidnapping Azizuddin and said that neither Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan is involve in abducting Azizuddin nor it has any information about his abduction.
It is worth mentioning that Khateeb Lal Masjid was held by Pakistan forces last year during the Lal Masjid operation when he was trying to skip by cladding burqa while Maulana Abdul Aziz, Maulana Sofi, Head of the Tehrik-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat Muhammadi is under treatment in one of the hospital in Peshawar now-a-days.
He was held on November 2001 at Pakistan border when he was trying to enter Pakistan via Pak-Afghan border. While Aitzaz Shah, Hussnain and Rafqat were held on the alleged charges of assassinating Benazir Bhutto.
Meanshile The human and civil rights organization Ansar Burney Trust on Sunday demanded the immediate release of kidnapped Pakistani Ambassador Tariq Azizuddin and his staff who have been abducted by extremist elements on the Pakistani-Afghan border.
Tariq Azizuddin, the Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan and his staff, went missing on Feb 11 2008 while on their way to Kabul from the Pakistani district of Khyber. It has been reported that they were abducted by pro-Taliban militants seeking a ransom. Chairman of the Ansar Burney Trust and former Federal Minister for Human Rights, Ansar Burney, in his statement said that Tariq Azizuddin was kidnapped while serving his nation and it was the duty of the people of Pakistan and the Pakistani government to use every resource available to secure their release.
Ansar Burney also Member Advisory Committee of United Nations Human Rights Council Geneva said that Azizuddin, his staff and their families had the full sympathies of the god fearing people of Pakistan and abroad.
Recently, a video was released by the abductors showing the distraught Azizuddin making an appeal to the Pakistani government and asking for its support in getting his release.
Burney said that the video has touched the hearts and minds of the Pakistani people and everyone in the country wants to see Azizuddin and his staff released immediately - and it was the duty of the government to listen to the wishes of the people and secure their release without delay.
Ansar Burney also said that he and the Ansar Burney Trust were willing to play any part they possible could to ensure the safe return of these innocent Pakistanis. He also appealed to the abductors to release Azizuddin and his staff immediately or face the wrath of the 160 million Pakistanis who want to have their fellow brothers return home safe.—Online