MIRANSHAH: Gunmen released a journalist yesterday a day after he was kidnapped in one of Pakistan’s tribal areas on the Afghan border, a relative said. “Armed men released Lal Wazir and dropped him near Azam Warsak Bazar today,” uncle Ibrahim Wazir said. Wazir, 38, who works for a local newspaper in the South Waziristan town of Azam Warsak, was taken from a shop by six masked gunmen on Thursday. “Lal is unable to speak to anybody but arrived back home in safety,” his uncle added. Wazir also works for the Islamabad-based think tank Fata Reasearch Centre, which specialises in tribal affairs. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. Tribal areas are a haven for militants, including the Taliban. According to the press campaign group Reporters Without Borders, Pakistan was the third deadliest country for journalists last year, behind Syria and Somalia.
Pakistan, US review security
Rawalpindi: Pakistan’s Defence Undersecretary Asif Yasin met yesterday the US Central Command Commander General Lloyd J Austin and discussed the security situation in the region, particularly in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of Nato forces in 2014 and Pakistan’s role along the border after the pullout. Both sides expressed satisfaction over Pakistan-US consultative defence forum. Austin praised the Pakistani army’s role in the war against terrorism.
NGO director kidnapped
Quetta: Unidentified gunmen kidnapped the director of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) from Railway Colony in Quetta yesterday, Geo News reported. Moor Muhammad’s vehicle was intercepted he was on his way to work and gunmen forced him to sit in their car and took him away to an undisclosed location. Police cordoned off the area began search.
Net surveillance may continue
ISLAMABAD: Even after the change of government, Internet surveillance is expected to stay and the blockade of services like YouTube may continue in Pakistan, says a study on ‘Freedom on the Net 2013’ by the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) Pakistan along with research analysts Freedom House to assess Internet freedom in 60 countries.
Agencies
