7 rescued from Pakistani lawmaker's 'private jail'

Seven persons, including two women and three children, were rescued from the "private jail" of a former provincial minister in southwest Pakistan, a media report said today.
Police said the seven persons were found in the private jail of Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, a sitting member of the assembly of southwestern Balochistan province.
Six fugitives were also picked up by the Anti-Terrorism Force and police. Police recovered arms and ammunition from their possession, Dawn daily quoted an unnamed police officer as saying.
Yesterday, Khetran surrendered to police after a kidnapping case was registered against him.
Police registered cases against Khetran, his son and eight others for kidnapping three policemen and snatching their weapons.

The police officer said Khetran, who belongs to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, allegedly tortured the policemen after kidnapping them.
However, Khetran contradicted the allegations and described the registration of a case against him as a politically motivated action. "I am in opposition, therefore I am being targeted," he said.