Pakistan: Kidnapped Deputy Commissioner of Balochistan’s Kharan District Recovered

QUETTA (Terror Monitor) — Munir Soomro, the deputy commissioner of Kharan district in Pakistan’s restive southwestern province of Balochistan, was recovered on Friday, provincial authorities said.

Babar Yousafzai, an adviser on media affairs to Balochistan’s Home Department, confirmed the official’s recovery in a statement, describing it as a welcome development.

Soomro was abducted on September 20 by unidentified armed terrorists while travelling from Quetta to Kharan. The abduction took place in the Barshonki area of Kharan district.

At the time of the incident, government officials said the deputy commissioner was travelling in a private vehicle accompanied by three other people. All four were abducted by the armed men.

On the third day after the kidnapping, the abductors released Soomro’s driver and security guard. However, the deputy commissioner remained in captivity until his recovery was announced on Friday.

Following the abduction, government authorities reportedly pursued various efforts to secure his release, including seeking the assistance of influential tribal figures.

Both government officials and sources close to the deputy commissioner’s family confirmed that he had been recovered safely.

However, it remained unclear whether his release was unconditional, whether the abductors’ demands had been accepted, or whether any ransom had been paid.

In his statement, Yousafzai said ensuring the safety of government officials and the public remained the government’s top priority.

Authorities had not disclosed further details about the circumstances of Soomro’s recovery, including the location where he was found or whether any arrests had been made in connection with the abduction.