Foreigners among 18 hostages freed in Turbat operation

QUETTA: Security forces claimed to have freed 18 hostages, 16 foreigners among them, and arrested two hostage-takers in an operation carried out in Balochistan’s Turbat district.

Security sources said they carried out an operation in a neighborhood of Turbat, which led to the recovery of 18 hostages, including 16 foreigners.

Of the freed foreigners, 15 belonged to Nigeria and one hailed from war-torn Yemen, they said, adding that two hostage-takers were also taken into custody during the operation.

The security forces have ramped up operation against outlaws in the wake of the killing of 20 men in Balochistan’s Turbat and Kech districts.

Twenty bullet-riddled bodies were found in Turbat and Buleda area of Kech district of Balochistan province last week. All the deceased, hailing from Punjab, were taken to Balochistan by human traffickers with an intention to make them cross the Pak-Iran border.

Earlier, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar took suo motu notice of the killing of 20 people in Balochistan’s Turbat.

The Chief Justice summoned a detailed report on the matter from the Balochistan’s provincial police chief and the director of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) within three days. They are required to inform the apex court about the steps they have taken to prevent such incidents in future.