National News

LAHORE, (APP): Ali Haider Gilani, the abducted son of
former Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani returned home after a
three-year captivity in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had sent his special
aircraft to Kabul to bring the young Gilani back home.
Members of the Gilani family received Ali Haider Gilani at the
airport amidst tears of happiness as they hugged and cheered. Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif and political leaders across the divide had
congratulated the family on the end of their ordeal.
Gilani was abducted from his home town Multan on May 9, 2013
as he was participating in an election campaign, and was recovered
on Monday, in an operation against an al-Qaeda affiliated group in
Paktia province, Afghanistan.
According to the Foreign Officer Pakistan’s Ambassador to
Kabul Abrar Hussain received Ali Haider Gilani at the Afghan
Ministry of Defence in the morning from the Afghan Authorities. He
was later taken to the Airport by a helicopter for onward travel to
Lahore.
The special aircraft had earlier left for Kabul at 9 in the
morning along with Ali Gilani’s brother and Protocol Staff of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kabul Abrar Hussain kept the Adviser
to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz of the
developments following his recovery in a joint operation by the US
and Afghan troops.
The Pakistani leadership have deeply appreciated the
successful efforts of Afghanistan National Army and NATO forces in
recovering Gilani safely and arrangements for his immediate return
to Pakistan, the Foreign Office said.
“Pakistan hopes that the three countries can work together to
decrease and eliminate terrorism from the region. Terrorists cannot
be allowed to hold governments hostage,” the statement said.