LAHORE: Ali Haider Gilani, son of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, revealed that he was kept in Faisalabad for two months soon after his abduction from Multan, his hometown in southern Punjab.
“They (the abductors) shifted me to Afghanistan after keeping in Faisalabad for about two months,” he informed media about his abduction. To a question, he said that four terrorists were killed during the joint operation of the US-Afghan forces to free him from his captors.
“I informed the US military (after end of the military operation) that I am a son of former prime minister of Pakistan,” he said. He also said that he was thankful to the Afghanistan government and their forces who rescued him in Giyan district of Paktika province in a joint military operation.
“Ali Gilani was rescued in Giyan district of Paktika province by US special operations forces and Afghan commandos in a partnered raid,” the Afghan media quoted a statement by USFOR-A as saying. “A counterterror mission was planned and launched after evidence of terrorist activity was confirmed.”
Talking to journalists at the Allama Iqbal International Airport, Ali Gilani said that the Afghan government gave sacrifices for a citizen of other country (Pakistan). “This is a good step and I am thankful to their government and their forces,” he said. Ali Gilani was handed over to Pakistan’s Ambassador Ibrar Hussain during a ceremony in Kabul.
He returned home after three-year captivity in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had sent his special aircraft to Kabul to bring the young Gilani back home. Members of the Gilani family received Ali Gilani at the airport amidst tears of happiness as they hugged and cheered. Prime Minister Nawaz and political leaders across the divide had congratulated the family on the end of their ordeal.
According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan’s Ambassador Abrar Hussain received Ali Haider Gilani at the Afghan Ministry of Defence in the morning from the Afghan authorities. He was later taken to the airport by a helicopter for onward travel to Lahore. The special aircraft had earlier left for Kabul at 9am in the morning along with Ali Gilani’s brother and protocol staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Abrar Hussain informed Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz of the developments following Gilani’s recovery in a joint operation by the US and Afghan troops. The Pakistani leadership has deeply appreciated the successful efforts of the Afghan National Army and NATO forces in recovering Gilani safely and arrangements for his immediate return to Pakistan, the Foreign Office said.
“Pakistan hopes that the three countries can work together to decrease and eliminate terrorism from the region. Terrorists cannot be allowed to hold governments hostage,” the statement said.
