ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani petroleum engineer who was kidnapped by rebels in South Sudan has been released from captivity on Thursday.
Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria confirmed the development and said Ayaz Ali Jamali has been released. “Mr Ayaz Jamali, who was in the captivity of some group in South Sudan, has been released,” he said.
The spokesman added that Pakistani diplomatic missions is Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Khartoum, Sudan had been making efforts to secure the release of Ayaz Jamali. Pakistan does not have a mission in South Sudan.
He thanked the governments of South Sudan, Sudan and China for their cooperation and support in the successful release of Ayaz Jamali.
Mr Ayaz Jamali, who was in the captivity of some group in South Sudan, has been released.
— M. Nafees Zakaria (@ForeignOfficePk) March 30, 2017
Our Missions in Addis Ababa&Khartoum have been making efforts to secure Mr Ayaz’s release with coop of Govts of S. Sudan, China & Sudan
— M. Nafees Zakaria (@ForeignOfficePk) March 30, 2017
We are grateful to the Govts of South Sudan China & Sudan for their cooperation and support in the successful release of Mr Ayaz Jamali
— M. Nafees Zakaria (@ForeignOfficePk) March 30, 2017
Human rights activist Ansar Burney also confirmed the release of Jamali showing a picture of him coming out of Khartoum airport.
GREAT SUCCESS: Thanks Allah for answering our Prayers & accepted our efforts for d release of # AyazJamali who was captured in South Sudan pic.twitter.com/AV2oklDzO3
— Ansar Burney (@AnsarBurney) March 30, 2017
Jamali was kidnapped along with four others earlier this month near Juba, capital of South Sudan by rebels forces loyal to former vice president Riek Machar.
He was working in an oilfield of China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation (CPECC). He was scheduled to return on March 22 and hailed from Badin district in Sindh.
South Sudan split away from Sudan in 2011 after decades of conflict but has been mired in civil war since President Salva Kiir sacked Machar in 2013. According to the United Nations, this conflict has forced three million people out of their homes and led to drought in the impoverished nation.
