Khoddar: Police were abducted from Khuzdar two days ago during a raid in Zahri town on Saturday and arrested 14 suspects. However, the main accused, Zahir Zahri, is largely left.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Police Balat Range, Sohail Khalid, along with Deputy Commissioner Khwaja Yasir Iqbal Dishti and SSPGoD Zahri confirmed the recovery at a press conference. On this occasion, Asma Jatak was also prepared in front of the media.
According to DIG Khalid, the incident took place between the night of 5 and 6 February when the gunmen attacked Jatak’s residence and kidnapped Asma Jatk at gunpoint. He claimed that instead of reporting the incident immediately, the victim’s family and members of their tribe protested after the Quetta-Karachi highway stopped.
The next day, an FIR was filed, indicating law enforcement agencies to launch a search operation.
The accused allegedly shut down his mobile phones and went into hiding. However, intelligence agencies provided a significant lead, which helped the police detect the location of the kidnappers.
The search for a central suspect is underway
Following the intelligence, police and Levies forces raided a site in the town of Zahra, and successfully recovered Asma Jatak. However, the main accused managed to escape in a nearby mountainous region.
DIG Khalid told the media, “When the accused was raided, Asma was trying to move it somewhere else.”
A total of 14 suspects were detained for further investigation into the whereabouts of Zahir Zahri and his colleagues. Law enforcement agencies have launched a search operation in the region, which has conducted raids on the suspected hideout.
DIG Sohil, along with the Khusadar administration and tribal elders, supported his assistance to the Callet Commissioner Naeem Bazar to help him achieve safe recovery of Asma.
Despite the recovery of Asma, the protesters have refused to reopen the Quetta-Karachi highway, and demanded that it be handed over to his family at the sit-in site.
The family announced, “We do not call our protests until Asma is handed over to her family in the presence of all the protesters.”
The highway has been blocked for three days, which causes severe disruption. Thousands of passengers are trapped, buses, coaches and other vehicles were trapped on both sides of the highway.
Dawn, appeared on February 9, 2025
