ATTOCK (WS News) – Punjab police on Saturday night claimed to have recovered PTI focal person advocate Intezar Hussain Panjutha after an encounter with his kidnappers on GT Road, in Hassan Abdal Sadar police jurisdiction.
Intezar Hussain Panjutha was abducted from Islamabad on Oct 8. Soon after his recovery, Panjutha, talking to the media, revealed that he was abducted from Islamabad for Rs20 million ransom, adding he was severely tortured by the kidnappers.
According to a police spokesperson, the vehicle was carrying a gang of kidnappers who had abducted an individual.
Upon being intercepted, the kidnappers opened indiscriminate fire at the police, who retaliated to their firing, forcing them to retreat.
The kidnappers fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle and the abducted individual.
The police managed to safely take the abductee who was identified as the PTI founder’s counsel, into custody, confirmed the spokesperson.
Panjutha had been missing since 8 October. A case regarding his disappearance has been pending before the Islamabad High Court.
A day earlier, Chief Justice of the IHC Justice Aamer Farooq heard the case, in which the Attorney General of Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan informed the court that efforts are under way to recover the PTI’s lawyer within 24 hours.
Panjutha was shifted to a hospital. He further said that the abductors communicated in Pashto, leaving him unable to understand their discussions.
“They kept me tied up until Saturday evening,” Panjutha said, recounting that he was being moved continuously for three to four hours.
