Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Hanif Noorzai Abducted in Balochistan’s Kech District
ISLAMABAD: Assistant Commissioner (AC) Muhammad Hanif Noorzai, who was posted in Tump near the Iran border, has been abducted from Balochistan’s Kech district, according to a statement made by a senior district official on Wednesday.
The Kech Deputy Commissioner, Bashir Ahmed Barich, confirmed that unidentified armed men kidnapped the AC while he was traveling from Quetta to his posting in Tump. Although initial reports confirm the abduction, officials have not yet released further details regarding the circumstances or the group responsible.
Increasing Security Concerns Near the Iranian Border
Tump, a town close to the Iranian border, has witnessed growing instability in recent years due to cross-border movement and militant activity. The kidnapping of a high-ranking government officer highlights the continuing security challenges in the region.
Muhammad Hanif Noorzai hails from Quetta and has previously served in several administrative roles across Balochistan. His abduction not only raises alarms about the safety of civil servants in volatile areas but also underlines the need for more comprehensive security arrangements for officials posted in remote border towns.
Past Incidents Reflect Persistent Threats
This is not the first time that a high-profile abduction has occurred in Balochistan. In 2016, Asad Khan Tareen, the son of the then-Local Government Minister Sardar Mustafa Tareen, was kidnapped from Pishin while returning from his duty at Cadet College Pishin. He was reportedly taken across the Afghan border and was recovered months later from Qila Abdullah district near the Pak-Afghan border.
These recurring incidents indicate that kidnapping for political leverage or ransom remains a persistent threat in Balochistan, particularly in districts bordering Iran and Afghanistan.
Efforts to locate and safely recover AC Noorzai are reportedly underway.
