Ali Haider Gilani, the recently freed son of former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, has been approached by the world renowned ‘Jurassic Park’ director Steven Spielberg for a film on his three years in captivity.
According to reports, Steven Spielberg telephoned Haider to congratulate him on his return and expressed his desire to make a film based on Haider’s years in captivity and his ‘miraculous’ release.
“I would like to make a film on the three years you spent in captivity and all that you experienced during that time,” Spielberg was quoted as telling Haider Gilani.
Addressing the media earlier yesterday, Haider refused to share any details about his time in the custody of militants, and said it was a long story which he would tell some other time. He added he also did not have plans to write a book at least for now.
Gilani, however, informed the media that Haider, during his time in captivity, did start taking notes to write a book but the manuscript was burnt by militants.
According to sources, Haider has not yet responded to Spielberg’s offer as yet.
Haider was rescued during a counter-terror raid by US and Afghan forces in eastern Afghanistan Tuesday.
He was kidnapped by militants in the outskirts of Multan on May 9, 2013, just two days before a bitterly contested national election in which he was campaigning.
“I thank all the Pakistanis who prayed for my recovery. It is because of the prayers that God showed His mercy and I have reached home safely,” Haider told media men in Lahore.
“I would also like to thank those who have been celebrating my homecoming, especially those who came [to Lahore] all the way from Multan just to meet me,” he added.
Haider’s recovery came two months after the kidnapped son of slain Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer was also freed. Shahbaz Taseer spent five years in militant captivity before his abrupt release in March.
Talking to media, Gilani thanked the Afghan and US troops for rescuing Ali. “The terrorists sometimes phoned me and sent vicious messages about my son’s fate. Thanks God, he has been recovered” he said.
