Two footballers who were abducted in early September in the Dera Bugti region of Balochistan have been successfully rescued after more than a month in captivity, as announced by provincial authorities on Sunday.
In the previous month, a group of six footballers was kidnapped by unidentified armed individuals while en route from Sui Tehsil in Dera Bugti to participate in the qualifying round of the All Pakistan Chief Minister Gold Cup Football tournament in Sibi. These footballers were traveling with their teammates from Dera Bugti district when they were intercepted and abducted at gunpoint in the Jani Pedi area of Sui Tehsil.
Initially, reports indicated that about 24 players were traveling to Sibi when they were ambushed by armed assailants, who took away six of them. However, the kidnappers later released 18 players, retaining only the six who hailed from the Dera Bugti and Sui areas.
Following the abductions, a concerted effort was launched to rescue the athletes. Last month, four of the six footballers were successfully located and reunited with their families.
Sibi Division Commissioner Bashir Ahmad Bangulzai confirmed that the remaining two footballers were rescued from Dera Bugti’s Pirkoh tehsil on the previous night. He explained that local authorities had subsequently handed the athletes over to their families early on Sunday morning.
Commissioner Bangulzai commended the critical role played by law enforcement agencies and the local administration in securing the athletes’ release. He added that extensive intelligence-based operations were carried out in more than 18 areas, ultimately leading to the capture of the kidnappers and the subsequent release of four of the athletes on September 29th. Further investigations into the matter are ongoing.
