RAWALPINDI: In a welcome turn of events, four of the six young footballers who were abducted in Balochistan’s Dera Bugti district on September 9 have been successfully recovered.
The safe rescue of these athletes was made possible through the concerted efforts of law enforcement agencies, the local administration, and the provincial government.
The six football players had been on their way to Sibi to participate in the Chief Minister Balochistan Gold Cup tournament when armed militants forcefully seized them in the Sangsila area of Dera Bugti district earlier this month.
The harrowing incident served as a stark reminder of the volatile security situation in certain regions of Balochistan. A senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to a lack of media authorisation, had confirmed the abduction, triggering immediate concerns for the safety of the players.
In response to the kidnapping, security measures were swiftly heightened in the affected area. Saleh Muhammad Nasar, the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) of Balochistan, revealed that a comprehensive search operation had been launched to locate the missing footballers. –Agencies