KARACHI, Pakistan: The son of Sindh High Court (SHC) Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, Advocate Awais Shah, has returned home after he was recovered early Tuesday as a result of an intelligence based operation conducted near Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district.
Sweets were distributed as Awais Shah was brought to his house in Karachi by the Director General Rangers Bilal Akbar.
Meanwhile in a press conference, the DG Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt General Asim Saleem Bajwa said that a splinter group of outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was involved in abduction of Awais Ali Shah.
Bajwa said that terrorists were trying to take Awais Shah to Afghanistan. He said that when Awais Shah was found, his hands and feet were chained whereas a tape was fixed on his mouth.
Giving details about the recovery operation, the DG ISPR said that the operation to recover Awais Shah was conducted near Mufti Mehmood Chowk in Dera Ismail Khan.
Bajwa said that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) played a vital role in recovery of Chief Justice’s son. He said that three kidnappers including a driver were killed in exchange of firing with security forces.
The DG ISPR said the intelligence agencies had information that Awais Shah was being transported from Dera Ismail Khan.
Earlier in the day, the DG ISPR said in a series of tweets that Awais Shah was safely recovered in wee hours on Tuesday as a result of an intelligence based operation from the captivity of terrorists in the area near Tank.
The DG ISPR said that during the recovery operation, three terrorists were killed.
Awais Shah son of Sind Chief Justice recovered through an IBO from custody of terrorists from near Tank,3 terrorists killed.-1/2
— Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) July 18, 2016
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif commended efforts of Intelligence and security forces for the conduct of successful recovery operation of the son of Chief Justice of SHC.
The COAS called on phone the Chief Justice and congratulated him on safe recovery of his son.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also appreciated the security forces for succeeding in the recovery of Awais Shah.
The prime minister said that the security forces deserve commendation for carrying out such a successful operation. He also congratulated Sindh Chief Justice on the recovery of his son.
Meanwhile talking to media, the Chief Justice of Sindh High Court Justice Sajjad Ali Shah said “I am thankful to Army Chief General Raheel Sharif for his efforts in recovery of my son. The credit of recovery of Awais Shah goes to the Army Chief.”
The Chief Justice said “Army Chief General Raheel Sharif telephoned me at 3 o’clock last night and informed me of my son.”
Sources said that Awais Shah was transported to Faisal Base Karachi from Tank in a special aircraft and later shifted to his home under tight security.
On June 20, Awais Shah left the SHC for Clifton area of Karachi to meet a friend, but did not reach there and was kidnapped by unknown assailants on his way.