- Sartaj says concerted efforts are on to recover Habib Zahir
Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Thursday informed the Senate that the government was in constant touch with Nepalese authorities as part of concerted efforts to recover Habib Zahir, a missing retired colonel of the Pakistan Army.
In a statement in the Senate in response to a question of an adjournment motion by Senator Ateeq Sheikh, he said that Habib Zahir had traveled to Katmandu from Lahore via London for a job. However, after leaving the airport, he went missing as he had lost contact with his family after reaching Nepal.
“Col Habib has applied online for a job and after the modalities were finalised, he traveled to Katmandu. He and his family had all the record of correspondence with the employer,” he said. According to preliminary investigation till his traveling to Katmandu on April 6, Habib was in constant touch with his family, he said.
On April 7, the retired military officer lost connection when he reached Katmandu. The adviser said that the investigations have also revealed that all those who offered him job, received him at the airport and booked air ticket and hotel for Habib, were Indians.
When Habib went missing, his family informed the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army as the government raised this matter with Nepalese government through Pakistani mission in Katmandu. The incident was also reported to the UN Working Group on Forced Disappearances.
Sartaj said that an FIR has also been lodged about his disappearing in Pakistan and with authorities in Nepal and the government was in constant touch with Nepalese authorities to trace whereabouts of Habib Zahir. Senator Ateeq had raised the matter in the House emphasising that it could have been an intrigue of Indian intelligence agency to pressurise Pakistan on Kalboshan Jhadev’s issue.
“If it is an Indian conspiracy, we should come out with emphatic and clear stance,” he said as he emphasised to admit his adjournment motion for discussion in the House. Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani admitted his motion and set it for discussion on Friday.
