Kidnapped PAEC Worker Found Dead in Lakki Marwat
LAKKI MARWAT: The body of a contract worker from the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), who was abducted earlier this month, was discovered on Saturday in the remote and rugged Zareefwaal area of Lakki Marwat district.
According to a local elder, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the recovery came after local elders, relatives of the hostages, and armed community members initiated a search operation in the area. Their efforts were prompted by reports of shelling on militant hideouts by security forces on Friday.
However, no official statement has been released regarding any military action in the region. The Pakistan Army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has not confirmed any such operation.
A video circulating on social media showed armed locals searching the mountainous terrain. The elder revealed that the kidnappers handed over the body of Rehanullah, one of the abducted workers, to the elders. The body was then transported to the Government City Hospital.
Additionally, the elder confirmed that Nawaz Khan, a coach driver who was abducted alongside the PAEC workers on January 9, was released through negotiations. Discussions are reportedly ongoing between the elders and militant leaders to secure the safe release of the remaining hostages.
After the hospital completed medico-legal formalities, Rehanullah’s body was handed over to his family. He was later buried in a local graveyard, with a large number of people attending the funeral.
In response to the incident, the All Shopkeepers Union announced a complete shutter-down strike in Lakki Marwat city on Monday, following a call from the grand jirga.
Union representatives, speaking at a press conference, expressed solidarity with the elders and pledged the business community’s full support in efforts to ensure the safe recovery of all hostages. They also announced their participation in upcoming protest demonstrations.
