TTP, al-Qaeda behind Awais Shah's kidnapping: DG ISPR

Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt. General Asim Bajwa has said that a Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP) splinter group and al-Qaeda were behind the kidnapping of Awais Ali Shah, son of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah.

Lt. General Bajwa said the motive was to spread terror with high profile kidnappings.

Disclosing details about the operation to rescue Shah, he said a figure in a burqa was found in the backseat of the vehicle after a gunman from the security forces shot the driver and two armed militants in order to stop a suspicious blue Toyota Surf that refused to halt at the checkpoint at Mufti Mehmood Chowk in Dera Ismail Khan on the way to Tank, reports the Dawn.

The burqa-clad figure was identified as Awais Shah, blindfolded, with his hands and feet chained and tape across his mouth.

"He was in a burqa. When we lifted it, he was under it and he had tape on his mouth. It was removed and he said 'My name is Awais Shah and I'm the son of the Sindh High Court Chief Justice'. Security forces then took Shah to a nearby camp where we cut his chains," said Lt. General Bajwa.

He added that weapons and ammunitions were also recovered from the militants, including three AK-47 Kalashnikovs and 500 rounds, six grenades and some drum magazines.

Ali Shah was kidnapped on June 20 from Clifton area of Karachi.

Lt. General Bajwa disclosed Shah's recovery on Tuesday through a tweet, adding that three terrorists have also been killed during the operation.

Earlier, the police speculated that Shah could be used as a 'bargaining chip' to ensure the release of some captured militants.