Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL
An elderly businessman was allegedly abducted by unidentified armed men in Landikotal on Friday, triggering widespread protests and a complete blockade of the Pak-Afghan highway at Charwazgai as tribal elders, traders and local residents demanded his immediate and safe recovery.
According to family members, the abducted trader, Lal Zareef Shinwari, popularly known as Landi Haji, was kidnapped at around 9:00 a.m. while travelling towards the Syed Jamala area near Landikotal bazaar.
Quoting eyewitnesses,the family members said Lal Zareef had been visiting the site where he was constructing a new residential settlement when three armed men, who were reportedly lying in wait, intercepted his vehicle, forced him out at gunpoint and abducted him.
The family members further said that the kidnappers took Lal Zareef through the mountainous routes of Syed Jamala towards the Afghanistan side.
However, no official confirmation of the route or destination had been issued by the authorities.Police said they have initiates investigation and would be prior to comment on it.
Soon after news of the kidnapping spread, members of the Khogakhel Kandaokhel tribe, local elders, traders, and residents gathered at Charwazgai and blocked the Pak-Afghan highway for all kinds of traffic.
Protesters demanded the immediate recovery of the elderly businessman and warned that the sit-in would continue until he was safely released.
Addressing the demonstrators, Awami National Party (ANP) leader Shah Hussain Shinwari expressed serious concern over the deteriorating security situation in Landikotal.
He said incidents of violence had become increasingly frequent and alleged that kidnapping for ransom had resurfaced in the area.
“If the government fails to ensure the protection of its citizens, today one trader has been kidnapped and tomorrow someone else could become the victim,” he told the protesters, urging authorities to take immediate and effective action.
The kidnapping has created fear and uncertainty among residents, particularly within the local business community. Traders said the incident had raised fresh concerns over public safety and called for stronger security measures to prevent similar occurrences.
During the protest, Landikotal Station House Officer (SHO) Adnan Afridi arrived at the demonstration site and held talks with tribal elders and protesters in an effort to persuade them to reopen the road. However, negotiations failed, with protesters insisting that the blockade would remain in place until the abducted businessman was recovered.
The road closure caused long queues of passenger vehicles, trucks and other traffic along the busy Pak-Afghan highway. Commuters, including women, children and patients, faced severe hardships as traffic remained suspended. The movement of cargo vehicles was also disrupted, while the return of Afghan refugees through the Torkham border was temporarily affected due to the blockade.
Police officials have not yet released an official statement regarding the circumstances of the kidnapping or the progress of any rescue operation. Security forces were reported to be monitoring the situation as efforts continued to negotiate with protesters and investigate the incident.
The protest was continuing at the time of filing this report.
