Eight employees of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) abducted over a year ago from Tank Frontier Region were released by their captors in wake of the government’s approach towards militants on Saturday.
The abducted WAPDA employees were working on the Gomal Zam Dam project, which was completed a few days ago. The United States ambassador to Pakistan, Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Shaukatullah inaugurated the dam two days ago.
Peshawar Governor House Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mohammad Haroon told media men that the captors had handed over all eight employees to the political administration in Waziristan through members of a tribal jirga, adding that the released hostages were on the way to their homes. However, no further information was provided in this respect.
KP WAPDA Hydro Electric Union Secretary General Gohar Taj Khan
has also confirmed the release of all the eight employees. He said WAPDA had recently approached the government to find ways and means for the safe and quick recovery of the hostages. “The released employees have joined other WAPDA employees working on the Gomal Zam dam,” he said.
Mohammad Haroon, a relative of one of the abducted employees, Sanaullah Khan from Tank, has confirmed that the family was informed about Sanaullah’s recovery. “We are waiting for Sanaullah’s arrival, Haroon said, adding that Sanaullah and seven others were presently in the custody of the political administration.
The eight WAPDA employees were abducted in August 2012 when they were going to their homes to celebrate Eidul Fitr with their families.
Over the past one year, the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has made several videos of the abducted employees public, demanding the government to accept the conditions of the militants.
WAPDA employees and family members of those abducted have also staged protest demonstrations in Peshawar, Dera Ismael Khan, Tank and other places.
The Gomal Zam Dam project will generate 17.4 Megawatts of power and provide irrigation water for around 200,000 acres of land.
