The endless series of abductions in the province has become a perpetual headache for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa people as professional kidnappers have been embolden by the negative attitude of the government and security agencies.
Protracted militancy and unemployment in the province have generated various nefarious crimes as a ‘big business’ which has paralysed the routine life but, unfortunately, the government is taking no concrete action to control the situation.
As kidnapping for ransom is on the rise at an alarming rate during the last couple of years, it is not only reputable personalities but the innocent commoners are also falling prey to the abductors who are executing their job in such an expert manner that they never miss their target.
Doctors, teachers, lawyers and other professionals are their prime targets. Last year, Dr Intikhab Alam was kidnapped who experienced the ordeal for more than 15 days.
The persistent agitation and ceaseless boycott by the doctors across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa eventually compelled the police to launch an operation during which Dr Alam was recovered from the suburbs of Peshawar.
Similarly, Islamia College University Vice-Chancellor Prof Ajmal Khan was abducted in September 2010 from outside his residence.
A video clip was aired on all the TV channels twice in which he demanded the government to act for getting him liberated while the students and the teachers community staged protests for his release but he is still in the militants’ captivity and seemingly there is no intention of the government for his recovery.
Zain Khan Khalil, a lawyer at the Peshawar High Court, was also abducted last from the street outside the house while his colleagues are still holding regular protests to remind the authorities about his early recovery but no action, except verbal assurances, is in the sight even after the passage of ten months.
The latest example is of the kidnapping of Dr Abdul Salam Afridi, who was working in District Kohistan as a health officer in the Polio Eradication Initiative Programme launched by the UNICIF, as the victim is missing for over a week.
An important thing to note is that the criminals are using various new sophisticated and innovative methods. For example, they assign pretty females to hunt possible targets. These ladies first attract young people with glamour and they are abducted after getting their complete confidence. Later, they demand for heavy ransom, and if the family fails to deliver, they waste no time is executing the abductees.
It is observed that the university and college girls are active in the profession as they are most useful and attractive for hunting, luring and completing the task with sophistication.
A number of cases have surfaced in which these girls were involved. After being arrested, they confessed that they were doing it willingly to meet their expenses on education.
