Eleven labourers abducted during an attack on a construction company’s camp in Balochistan’s Duki district have been released following negotiations with tribal elders, officials and sources said.
“The 11 labourers have been released and they are safe and sound,” Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hamza Shafqaat said, adding that they had been moved to a safe location.
On September 26, around 40 to 50 unidentified armed men attacked the camp of SMC Construction Company in Palri, Duki district. During the assault, the attackers set four company vehicles on fire.
A private security guard was killed and another was injured in the incident. The assailants also abducted 12 labourers at gunpoint.
Following the attack, Duki Superintendent of Police and other police personnel, along with Frontier Corps (FC) troops and other law enforcement agencies, reached the area, cordoned it off and launched a search operation.
The kidnappers subsequently killed one of the abducted labourers, identified as Shahid, and dumped his body in the Kohlu area.
Sources said the authorities sought the assistance of tribal elders, who held prolonged negotiations with the kidnappers to secure the labourers’ release.
The negotiations eventually proved successful, resulting in the release of the remaining 11 labourers, the sources added.
Of the 11 released labourers, 10 belong to Rahim Yar Khan district in Punjab, while the remaining worker is a resident of Duki district in Balochistan.
