DG ISPR discloses the inside story of Awais Shah's recovery from kidnappers

KARACHI (Staff Report) - Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt-General Asim Bajwa on Tuesday said that the kidnapped son of the Sindh Chief Justice, Awais Shah, was recovered  from Tank while the abductors were transporting  him in a suspected vehicle.

Addressing a press conference, Bajwa said that kidnappers had made Awais Shah wear a burqa to hide his identity and safely transport him to the desired location. The driver and two others

The driver and two others were shot dead by a sniper to stop the suspicious vehicle in Dera Ismail Khan at an intersection on the way to Tank, he went on to say.

"Later a burqa wearing object was found in the car, which was identified as Awais Shah - the son of Sindh Chief Justice Syed Sajjad Ali Shah. He was blindfolded, while his hands and feet were chained and there was a tape across his mouth," DG ISPR said.

Commenting about the affiliation of the kidnappers, Bajwa said that they were from a   TTP splinter group with some al-Qaeda elements.

He categorically dismissed the claim that a political party was involved in the kidnapping of Awais Shah, saying that there was no such information.

"There was a whole chain of intelligence was working on the case and they were awake to make this operation a success last night," he said while responding to a question.

On the occasion, he also recalled the kidnappings and recoveries of Shahbaz Taseer and Ali Haider Gilani saying: "They only want to spread terror".

To another question, Asim Bajwa said that the operation was just completed this morning and that Awais Shah was yet to be debriefed.

Lt-General Asim Bajwa also shared some pictures of Awais Shah taken immediately after his recovery.

 

Meanwhile, Awais Ali has been reunited with his family and a picture being circulated online showed his father Syed Sajjad Ali Shah kissing him.

Awais Shah was recovered from the custody of terrorists near Tank in an intelligence-based operation on Tuesday morning.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), as many as three terrorists were also killed during the operation.  Awais Shah is now in the protection of security forces and will be transported back to his parents later this day.

“Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has also commended efforts of Intelligence and security agencies for the successful operation,” DG ISPR Lt-General Asim Bajwa said in a tweet.

General Raheel Sharif telephoned the Sindh Chief Justice and congratulated him on the recovery of his kidnapped son.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also appreciated the security forces for the successful operation for the recovery of Awais Shah.

The Prime Minister also congratulated Sindh Chief Justice on the recovery of his son.



It is also pertinent to be mentioned here that Awais Shahn was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on June 20 when he went out shopping at a mall in Clifton.