Pakistani man held by militants for 5 yrs jokes abt 'Homeland'

Image
AFP Lahore
Last Updated : Mar 30 2016 | 12:02 AM IST
A Pakistani man freed earlier this month after being held by militants for five years joked on Twitter today that his wife had compared him to Damien Lewis's character in the hit US drama "Homeland".
Shahbaz Taseer, the son of a Pakistani governor, was abducted by Islamist gunmen in Lahore in 2011, just months after his father Salman was killed for opposing the country's controversial blasphemy laws.
He was picked up by security forces in the southwestern province of Balochistan on March 8, though the circumstances of his release remain murky.
His family have declined interviews with media since, but today Taseer took to Twitter for a light-hearted question and answer session with followers about his captivity.
When asked by one if he had seen "Homeland", starring Lewis as a US Marine turned would-be terrorist after he was radicalised during eight years of captivity, he said: "Not yet but trust me I'm good!"
"The protagonist in its first 2 seasons came to my mind when I heard the news about your release," the follower pushed.
But Taseer laughed it off, writing: "That's what my wife said haha".
During his custody, Taseer was moved between locations in the tribal areas and militant outfits, according to multiple rebel commanders.
Militant sources have said he was treated well during his time in captivity, with one telling AFP that he used to play cricket with his captors.
Speculation has been rife that his release -- which came a week after his father's killer Mumtaz Qadri was hanged -- was the a result of a ransom being paid to his Taliban captors, with some militant sources placing the figure at tens of millions of dollars.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Mar 30 2016 | 12:02 AM IST

Next Story