Missing Islamabad journalist Yasir Ayaz recovered in Swabi

SWABI: Journalist Yasir Ayaz, who had been missing from Islamabad for four days, was recovered in Swabi on Tuesday, police officials said.

According to officials, Ayaz contacted his father from an unknown number and told him he was in the Baraqai area of Swabi district. Mansoori police post in-charge Waleed Khan said he was in the Charbagh area when he received information that an unconscious man had been found near the police post.

Khan said the man was brought to the police post in critical condition. After his condition improved, he identified himself as a journalist. The police official said Ayaz was in severe distress and initially could not speak properly.

The officer said police shifted him to a private hospital in the Gohati area for a medical examination and later brought him back to the police post after his condition got better.

"He was extremely nervous and unable to speak. We immediately took him to a private hospital in the Gohati area for a medical check-up. He was brought back to the police post as his condition improved," Waleed Khan said speaking about Ayaz’s condition when he was found.

Police said Ayaz later got in touch with his family. After the information reached them, reporters from the private television channel where he works travelled to Swabi. His brother and other family members also arrived at the Mansoori police post.

Officials said it was not known who had abducted him from Islamabad. They also said it was not immediately clear how he had been brought to the Baraqai area or for what purpose.

Ayaz went missing on June 5 from the limits of Islamabad’s Aabpara police station, after which his whereabouts remained unknown. He is originally from Mansehra district and works as a journalist in Islamabad.

Police said the recovered journalist was handed over by district police to Islamabad police, who then took him back to the capital.