Judge kidnapped from DI Khan, tank border

DEAR ISMAIL KHAN/PESHAWAR: The District and Sessions Judge of South Waziristan was kidnapped from the Dera Ismail Khan-Tank District border on Saturday.

Sources said the armed kidnappers abducted District and Sessions Judge Shakirullah Marwat from Bhagwall area on Tank-Dera Ismail Khan Road when he was traveling with the driver in his official car. The kidnappers put the judge in their vehicle and drove away, leaving behind his driver and official car.

Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur directed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan to intensify efforts for the judge’s safe recovery.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar High Court (PHC), taking cognizance of the incident, has ordered the KP Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary Home Affairs and Inspector General of Police to take steps to ensure the recovery of the kidnapped judge. Sources said PHC Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice SM Attique Shah summoned the three senior officials after receiving a note from the Supreme Court Registrar.

IGP Akhtar Hayat Khan and Home Minister Abid Majeed appeared before the PHC and briefed the judges about the steps being taken to recover the kidnapped judge. Abid Majeed said he had been in touch with security forces and would inform the PHC about the developments, adding that he was monitoring the situation. The PHC senior judges said providing security to the judges was the responsibility of the provincial government, adding that there should be no negligence in this regard. They directed the officials to submit a report to the PHC registrar.