Death certificate of Col. Rtd. Habib Zahir fake: Foreign Office

ISLAMABAD: In a weekly briefing by the foreign office of Pakistan, the spokesperson, Dr Muhammad Faisal said that the death certificate of missing ex. Military Colonel Habib Zahir being circulated in the media was fake, ARY News reported on Thursday.

The foreign office spokesperson said that the certificate was an attempt by hostile agencies to subvert and disinform the masses.

Colonel Retired Habib Zahir remains missing from Nepal, maintained Dr Muhammad Faisal.

Earlier on September 18, The spokesperson said that according to Zahir’s family, he had posted his CV on LinkedIn and the UN website for a job. In response, he received a call and email from Mr. Mark stating that he had been shortlisted for the job of Vice President, read the statement.

He was asked to visit Kathmandu, Nepal for which he was sent air-ticket for Lahore-Oman-Kathmandu by Oman Airlines for an interview on 6 April 2017.

On 6 April 2017, he had messaged his wife from his cellphone intimating that he had landed safely at Lumbini after which his mobile appeared switched off and his family lost contact with him, said the spokesperson.

Dr Muhammad Faisal said that investigations revealed that the UK cell number of Mr. Mark was fake and actually was an internet/computer-generated number.

The website that he was contacted from was found to be operated from India and was subsequently taken down, the spokesperson said and added that the government of Nepal constituted a special team to look into his disappearance but there has not been any progress in the matter so far.

The spokesperson said, “In view of his disappearance from Lumbini, which is 5 kilometers from the Indian border and the involvement of Indian nationals, Pakistan also repeatedly requested the government of India to assist in locating him. However, no positive response has been received from the Indian side.”

His family is very distressed and also approached the UN Working Group on Enforced Involuntary Disappearances in Geneva for assistance in locating him, the statement said and added that his disappearance had also been reported in media, including outside Pakistan.