Govt accepts BLUF demands for Solecki’s release

[Rage]

Govt accepts BLUF demands for Solecki’s release

Updated at: 2246 PST, Thursday, March 05, 2009

QUETTA: The government has agreed to accept the demands of Balochistan Liberation United Front (BLUF) for the safe release of abducted UN official John Solecki.

According to sources, BLUF had asked the government to release 1109 missing persons in exchange for Solecki’s recovery.

It has also been learnt that the government has decided to take steps for the release of BLUF missing persons.

Sources further told that seven out of 141 women have been identified and law enforcement agencies had also collected information about 45 persons.

A high-powered committee will present a report in this connection in next few days.


http://www.geo.tv/3-5-2009/36617.htm

 

[Rage]

‘Govt accepts BLUF demands for John Solecki’s release’

*Balochistan government announces top-level committee to investigate captors’ demands


Friday, March 06, 2009

LAHORE: The government has accepted the demands of the Balochistan Liberation United Front (BLUF) in exchange for the recovery of John Solecki, head of the United Nations refugee agency in Quetta, a private TV channel quoted its sources as saying on Thursday.

However, no confirmation was made at the official level about the acceptance of the demands, the channel said.

According to the channel, seven of the 141 missing women had been identified and a high-powered committee would submit a report in a few days.

Separately, according to another news channel, the Balochistan government said in a statement that the list of 1,109 alleged missing persons provided by the BLUF was being ‘intensively’ scrutinised.

According to the statement, 45 persons had already been traced, a few of whom were at their houses while a few were in judicial custody for their alleged involvement in criminal cases.

Committee: Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani announced a top-level committee to investigate the captors’ demands.

“We have set up a high-level committee, including high-ranking officials and politicians, to locate the whereabouts of the alleged missing persons listed by the Balochistan Liberation United Front,” the provincial government said in a statement, AFP reported.

The Balochistan home secretary will work as secretary of the committee. The committee, headed by the Balochistan chief minister, invited the female members of the provincial assembly to assist in identifying and locating the allegedly missing women in the province, the statement said.

It said once the provincial authorities scrutinised the list, the report would be submitted to the committee constituted for further guidance. Further cases of missing persons would also be processed simultaneously, it said.

Solecki was abducted at gunpoint from the city of Quetta while travelling to work on February 2. His driver was killed during the abduction.


daily times monitor/staff report/afp


http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\03\06\story_6-3-2009_pg1_10

 

[Rage]

UN chief urges Pak to ensure release of UNHCR staff

Updated at: 1000 PST, Friday, March 06, 2009

NEW DELHI: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has asked Pakistan all it can to ensure the release of abducted UNHCR official John Solecki at the earliest.

Ban Ki-Moon discussed the matter with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari over the phone on, while President Zardari assured the UN chief that Pakistan would do all it can for Solecki's safe recovery and the government has taken the kidnapping 'very seriously', as it has mobilized all its resources for his release.

Ban Ki-moon also expressed his grief on the terrorists’ assault of Sri Lankan team in Lahore, while regional situation and other matters of importance were also discussed.


http://thenews.jang.com.pk/updates.asp?id=70602