Pakistani Judge Kidnapped in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province Released Unharmed

A district and sessions judge in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province who was kidnapped by armed men on April 27 has been released unconditionally and reached home safely, according to the counter-terrorism department of the KPK Police. The judge, Shakirullah Marwat, was abducted while traveling from Tank to Dera Ismail Khan when armed assailants intercepted his vehicle on Dera Road Bhagwal. The driver of the judge was not harmed, and the vehicle was also recovered from the spot.

Immediately after the abduction, police launched search operations but the whereabouts of the judge remained unknown. A special committee comprising officials from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), police, and other law enforcement agencies was formed to thoroughly examine the case and recover the abducted judge. Despite mobilizing all available resources, it took authorities a day to locate and rescue Judge Marwat.

No one has claimed responsibility for the judge's kidnapping, according to the police. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson, Barrister Saif, stated that the government and security forces are successfully fighting terrorism in the region. Additional Chief Secretary Home, Abid Majeed, had assured that every effort was being made to ensure the safe recovery of the abducted judge.

Why this matters: The kidnapping of a high-ranking judicial official in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by the country. The successful rescue operation and unconditional release of the judge demonstrate the commitment of Pakistani authorities to combat terrorism and maintain the rule of law.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of judges and the need for enhanced security measures. "The government will continue to fight terrorism with full force. The safe recovery of the judge is a testament to the success of our security apparatus," said Barrister Saif. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the kidnapping to identify and apprehend the perpetrators and prevent such incidents in the future.

Key Takeaways

• Judge Shakirullah Marwat kidnapped in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, on April 27.
• Judge released unconditionally and returned home safely after a day of search operations.
• No one claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, which underscores security challenges in the region.
• Successful rescue operation demonstrates Pakistan's commitment to combating terrorism and upholding rule of law.
• Authorities launched a full investigation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.