Islamabad:
Security forces and government efforts are underway to ensure the release of individuals who were kidnapped by Khwarjis in Lakki Marwat, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
According to security sources, Khwarjis had abducted workers affiliated with a mining project in the Kabul Khel area of Lakki Marwat on January 9. The workers were on their way to work as the terrorists had captured their vehicle and kidnapped them.
Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) later released a video of the kidnapped individuals and demanded the government fulfill their terms.
However, in an attempt to increase pressure on government, the Khwarjis killed one of the hostages. They then forced another hostage to record a video that mistakenly claimed the victim was killed in an air strike.
On January 25, the terrorists handed the body of the victim and another hostages to the elders in Kabul Khel tribe and falsely claimed that the death was the result of an air striker of security forces. However, the claim was completely baseless and a clear defamation act.
A quick search operation from the security forces then successfully saved eight of the 16 hostages, while the remaining individuals are still in custody of the Khwarjis. There are ongoing efforts to ensure their safe release.
