The local administration of Zhob Division is making all-out efforts to recover the two Swiss tourists, who were kidnapped two days ago, as the law enforcers Sunday conducted raids in different areas but failed to make any progress.
The couple, David Oliver Och and Daniela Widmer, were abducted by unknown armed men on Friday afternoon from Loralai, some 300km northeast of Quetta, as they were on their way to the provincial capital while their vehicle was found near Minara, from the main town of the district. The administration fears that the Taliban might be behind the abduction of the foreigners and use it as bargain for getting their demands accepted. However, no one is sure on the issue.
“We suspect Islamic militant groups of abducting the Swiss couple for their political ends and God forbid, if it happens, it will cause much complications both for the country and the province,” a senior official told this scribe, adding that was the reason why search operation was launched simultaneously in Loralai and the two neighbouring districts of Qilla Saifullah and Zhob, which borders Afghanistan and FATA. However, he says local criminal elements might have kidnapped the couple for minting money.
The administrative official also pointed out the incident happened last year when three senior Pakistani officials along with a driver of Mercy Corps International were abducted from the neighbouring district of Killa Saifullah for ransom. The driver was slaughtered and a video with the victim’s message before being killed and the whole scene of execution was sent to the organisation’s office. However, the remaining officials of the international NGO were set free after the payment of ransom money.
Interestingly, no group or individual has so far claimed the responsibility for the criminal act while the government also did not receive any demand for the release of the Swiss nationals. On the other hand, the Levies Force and other law enforcing agencies are handling the search operation. When contacted, Sohail-ur-Rahman, the deputy commissioner of Loralai, said the team, sent to the mountains had returned without making any headway.
However, he said, another party had been moved to hunt down the criminals and get the foreigners released.
