Karachi: September 30: Abid Abdullah, Director Coordination of the Pakistan’s largest media group Jang who as abducted in the early hours of September 28 was set free in the evening of the same day. He was kidnapped at gun point by unidentified men at around 3 am on from Peshawar, the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa province.

Details of his release are not clear as, according to his colleagues, Abdullah is recuperating from the ordeal.

Abdullah was kidnapped as he was returning to hotel along with his driver Zafar Hussain after visiting the printing press of the Daily Jang at the Industrial Estate area in Hayatabad area of the city. Armed men in two vehicles intercepted the car and three persons got into Abdullah’s car.

According to the statement given to the police by Hussain, the armed men said they knew Abdullah and that he was close to Mir Shakilur Rehman, the proprietor of the Jang and Geo Group. Abdullah offered them to give them money, if they were kidnapping him for ransom.  The kidnappers said they were not after money.  The kidnappers also said they would make three prominent journalists of the media group namely Shahzaib Khanzada, Hamid Mir and Najam Sathi, their ‘guests’ soon.

Hussain was directed to drive to the hotel but when they reached near the hotel, the armed men told the driver to park the car and wait inside with head down. He was also warned not to look anywhere or they would shot him.  The kidnappers took Abdullah with them in their car and fled. They also took mobile phones of Abdullah and Hussain with them.

The motive behind kidnapping and his release could not be ascertained.