Son's kidnappers do not want ransom: former Pakistan PM

Former Pakistan prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that his son Ali Haider's kidnappers have never asked for a ransom as they were only interested in securing release of some Taliban prisoners, media reported Monday.

"They want release of certain prisoners from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. But the government has failed to secure the release of my son, or of Shahbaz Taseer, the son of slain Punjab governor Salman Taseer, and other innocent captives in return," Gilani was quoted as telling the Dawn online.

Ali Haider was kidnapped by gunmen in Multan two days before the May 11 general elections last year.

Gilani has criticised Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for sharing a video of his son with the media where Haider is in chains and saying that he was in the captivity of a group which was not under the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Haider also says in the video that the kidnappers initially demanded Pakistani Rs.2 billion for his release but now they have reduced the ransom amount to Pakistani Rs.500 million and he will be killed if the payment was not made in a month.

"My family and I could not sleep the whole night when we learnt about the disturbing content of the video. I did not expect such an irresponsible behaviour from Chaudhry Nisar. He should have informed me first," Gilani said.

Gilani also criticised the government by saying that it was releasing Taliban prisoners and is not doing anything to get in return.

After the kidnapping, the Gilani family had also received a recorded voice message where Haider is appealing to the government, security forces and people to accept the demands of his kidnappers.

"I will talk to the prime minister and interior minister and ask them why the government has adopted a non-serious attitude regarding the release of my son," Gilani added.