By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested 15 suspects in the abduction case of prominent trader Muhammad Zareef Shinwari but have not yet successful to recover the abducted businessman, police said.
SHO Landikotal Adnan Afridi said police obtained important information through the tracing of mobile phones and also identified the locations of the suspected kidnappers. He said the abductors had shifted the trader to an undisclosed location and efforts were underway to trace and recover him safely.
The SHO said investigations had also revealed evidence suggesting the involvement of local suspects as well as some alleged kidnappers from Peshawar. He added that further arrests were expected as the investigation progressed.
“Police are making all-out efforts to ensure the safe and early recovery of Muhammad Zareef Shinwari,” Adnan Afridi said.
He appealed to the trader’s family, local elders, political parties and protesters to cooperate with the police, and said that significant progress had been made in the case and further developments were expected. He said cooperation from all stakeholders was essential for the safe recovery of the abducted trader and the successful conclusion of the investigation.
Meanwhile, the abduction of Muhammad Zareef Shinwari has entered its 34th day, with the trader still missing and a protest sit-in continuing on the Pak-Afghan Highway in Landikotal for his recovery.
A large number of relatives of the abducted trader, local political and social leaders and workers are participating in the protest sit-in camp every day. The participants are demanding that state institutions fulfil their responsibility and take effective measures for the immediate recovery of Shinwari.
Awami National Party leader Shah Hussain Shinwari said Khyber District Police Officer Waqar Ahmad Khan had assured them two days earlier that the trader would be recovered soon. However, they said 48 hours had passed since the assurance, but Shinwari had yet to be recovered.
He warned that the protest would continue until the safe recovery of the trader and urged the authorities to intensify efforts to trace the kidnappers and secure his release.
Muhammad Zareef Shinwari, a well-known trader of Landikotal, was allegedly kidnapped from Landikotal 34 days ago by unidentified armed men. His abduction has triggered concern among traders, residents and political and social circles, with repeated calls for his immediate and safe recovery.
The ongoing sit-in has also affected traffic on the Pak-Afghan Highway, as protesters have vowed to continue their demonstration until the abducted trader is recovered.
