Law enforcement agencies on Thursday recovered the son-in-law of former chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Lt General (r) Tariq Majeed. Amir Aftab Malik, who is the president of Barkat Market Traders’ Union in Lahore’s posh Garden Town area and runs a jewellery business, was kidnapped by suspected militants on August 25, 2010, from his Faisal Town residence.
A videotape was released by his kidnappers some three months later which showed a visibly-shaken Amir surrounded by masked men wielding automatic Kalashnikov rifles. Amir is seen giving out the conditions for his release: a ransom amount of Rs 130 million coupled with the release of 153 militants arrested by the military across the country. According to the video, he was in the custody of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Well-placed sources in intelligence agencies said that Amir was recovered after successful negotiations between militants and the officials of law enforcement. Sources said Amir was recovered from North Wazirastan Agency, and would reach home in the next 48 hours. His father Aftab Malik, while talking to reporters outside his residence in Garden Town, confirmed that his son had been recovered safely by security agencies, but that he had not reached home yet. He called his son’s recovery a result of his prayers. He said he had told Amir’s daughter about his recovery. “We have passed through a really hard time since Amir’s abduction,” Malik added. To a question, he said he did not know if any ransom was given for Amir’s release, and also denied knowledge of his current whereabouts after his recovery. Senior Superintendent of Police (Investigations) Abdul Razzaq Cheema, while talking to Pakistan Today, said police had heard about Amir’s recovery. He said police would investigate Amir after seeking his consent once he returns to his house. He said information provided by Amir would help police in identifying kidnappers and militants.
