Lt. Col. Khalid Ameer and three of his relatives, who were kidnapped earlier this week by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) known as "Fitna al-Khawarij" have been released safely and unconditionally, the military's media wing said on Saturday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed through a realised statement which stated that the hostages were released thanks to the concerted efforts of tribal elders and local dignitaries who played a pivotal role in securing their freedom.
“All the abductees have safely returned home,” the statement read.
The abduction occurred on Wednesday evening when Lt. Col. Khalid Ameer, Assistant Commissioner Asif Ameer, and their two relatives, Fahad Ameer and a nephew, were taken hostage while attending their father’s funeral in Dera Ismail Khan, a district severely affected by militancy.
During their captivity, the hostages were seen in two separate videos released by the abductors, in which they made emotional appeals for the government to meet the unknown demands of their captors.