Former Afghan governor Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi was recovered safe and sound from Mardan a fortnight after he was abducted in Islamabad, his son officially confirmed earlier today
“Wahidi has been found and handed over to Afghanistan consulate in Peshawar,” his son, Nemat Wahidi, said.
On February 12, unidentified men had kidnapped Afghanistan’s former governor of Herat province in Islamabad. The former governor and an influential Afghan leader had earlier arrived in the federal capital along with his family to get visas to travel to UK as British embassy in Kabul does not directly issue visas to Afghan nationals.
The former envoy had gone to a restaurant with his 12-year-old grandson when unidentified persons arrived in two vehicles and kidnapped him, leaving the child, sources said.
According to a police official, the former governor was staying at a guesthouse in Islamabad’s F-7 sector and was near Rana Market when he was abducted.
Nemat did not reveal how his father returned or who brought him back to the consulate. “We don’t know who handed him over. His health is great, though he said he is a little tired. But no injuries,” Nemat said.
Wahidi’s son-in-law, Syed Ikram, a member of the National Assembly, and a part of the Afghan parliamentary delegation currently visiting Pakistan, said he had talked to Fazalullah Wahidi on the phone.
“All institutions played an important role in Wahidi’s recovery,” Ikram said in Islamabad, adding that Wahidi was recovered early Friday around 2:30am.
Wahidi is scheduled to meet Afghan ambassador Omar Zakhilwal in Islamabad later on Friday, Ikram stated.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
Fazalullah Wahidi remained very close to former Afghan president Hamid Karzai and also served as governor of Kunar province.
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