DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Terrorists associated with Fitna al Khawarij abducted several employees of Chashma Sugar Mills after stopping their bus on a national highway near Ramak in Dera Ismail Khan, reports say, prompting a security operation to recover the hostages.
The abductors stopped the bus over a dispute involving an extortion demand and took several employees away. Police cordoned off the area, while security forces were dispatched from Dera Ismail Khan to assist in efforts to secure the employees’ release.
Authorities were working to locate the abducted workers and recover them safely. The number of employees taken away and their identities were not immediately available.
The incident highlights continuing security concerns in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where armed militants have been involved in kidnappings for ransom and extortion targeting government officials, local residents and other individuals.
Dera Ismail Khan and neighbouring southern districts have faced persistent militant activity, with abductions and threats used to pressure victims or their families into paying money. Such incidents also pose challenges for law enforcement in areas where militants can operate along highways and in remote settlements.
The latest abduction comes amid broader security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where authorities have continued counterterrorism operations against armed groups, including militants referred to by Pakistani officials as Khawarij.
Police and security forces were continuing efforts to recover the Chashma Sugar Mills employees. There was no immediate information about any arrests or whether negotiations had begun with the abductors.
