LAHORE, Pakistan: 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 09:00 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.
