Abductions in Bannu: Petroleum Drivers, Officials Seized

Peshawar, Oct 9 (PTI) At least six individuals, including drivers from a petroleum company and officials from the irrigation department, have been abducted by unknown assailants in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, as reported by police on Thursday.

The incidents occurred in the Bannu district, which borders North Waziristan, on Wednesday. In the Baka Khel area, four drivers associated with a petroleum company were seized along with four trucks.

In a separate event, two officials from the Irrigation Department were kidnapped during a canal inspection at Pipal Bazar in Banda Daud Shah tehsil.

Authorities have filed cases for both incidents and initiated a massive search operation with the aim of apprehending the perpetrators. According to information obtained from the Bannu district administration, 23 people have been abducted within the district over the past month and a half.

This figure includes professionals such as private company officials, teachers, polio workers, a private school principal, and retired security personnel. Out of these 23 abductions, seven individuals have been successfully rescued, but 16 remain missing, including five employees of a power company who were abducted nearly a month ago.

Bannu is recognized as one of the most unstable districts in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where terrorist and militant activity poses a significant threat to security forces, police, and government officials.

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