Ex-Pakistani PM Gilani's kidnapped son finally recovered
Pakistan's Foreign Office has confirmed that Ali Haider Gilani- son of ex-PM Gilani was recovered today from Afghanistan's Ghazni province three years after abduction by Taliban. The US and Afghan forces had carried out a joint operation to recover Haider; arrangements to transfer Haider from Afghanistan are underway. Afghanistan's Ambassador to Pakistan called the ex-PM and informed him that the operation was successful.
Yousaf Raza Gilani was the 16th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2008-12. In 2012, Gilani was disqualified as he was found guilty of contempt of court. He was the Vice-Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of 'Pakistan Peoples Party'.
Ahead of the 2013 Pakistani General Elections, Ali Haider Gilani-Former Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani's son was kidnapped by masked gunmen during a PPP campaign meeting in Multan. According to a witness, the gunmen had opened fire at the party supporters and even shot at Haider's bodyguard and secretary, who later succumbed to the injuries. No organization had immediately claimed responsibility for the kidnap/attack.
Terrorist organization Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had warned political parties including 'Awami National Party' and 'Pakistan Peoples Party' not to campaign for the upcoming elections. TTP revolted as it didn't accept the Westernized democracy, which was against Islam.
The Pakistani police had claimed that they had arrested the ringleader of the group, which kidnapped Gilani's son. However, the security forces still continued their search for other involved members. Wazir Gul, the suspected ringleader, was arrested in the Mardan district of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. Gul was an Afghani national, who was wanted by the police for several crimes.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan group had put its demand forward for the release of some key leaders for releasing Ali Haider. Reportedly, Gilani had received a voice message from his son in which he explained the conditions set by Taliban for freeing him. A militant spokesperson stated that Gilani's son was kidnapped to avenge a military operation carried out by the ex-PM against the Taliban.
In Apr'14, a video was released in which a chained-up Haider was seen in a bad state. In that video, Haider said that he was in the custody of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. Taliban had refused to release Ali Haider earlier.
Former Pakistani PM Yousaf Gilani stated that he was in contact with the kidnappers but, they had never demanded a ransom from him. He said that the kidnappers only wanted their demand to be fulfilled, which was securing the release of some prisoners from the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. He added that the Pakistani government didn't seem serious regarding the release of his son.
On 24 May'15, ex-PM Gilani said that he had spoken to Haider for the first time in two years. Haider called him from an unknown number and told that he was well and spoke for eight minutes.
Ex-PM Yousuf Gilani had visited the headquarters of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to discuss the case of his son's kidnapping with Lt. General Rizwan Akhtar- ISI chief. Gilani briefed General Rizwan Akhtar about his conversation with his kidnapped son Ali Haider Gilani over the telephone and his discussion with the officials of Afghanistan. ISI stated that they would provide full support and cooperate with Gilani.
