The provincial government and political administration have failed to trace the whereabouts of the missing Punjab minister, Naeemullah Shahani, who had disappeared from Miran Shah, headquarters of North Waziristan Agency, on Saturday.
When Business Recorder contacted Brigadier Mahmood Shah, Secretary, Security, FATA, he said that search and investigation were in progress, but so long failed to find any clue to the missing minister.
He said he was confident that he might be somewhere in North Waziristan Agency, and also disputed the claims of the political administration that Shahani had been kidnapped from outside the limits of the Agency.
This scribe also tried to contact Political Agent, North Waziristan, and Assistant Political Agent, without success. An official on duty said that no further arrest had been made, and that senior officials were busy in efforts for the recovery of the minister and his colleagues.
It is worth mentioning that ministers and others dignitaries, as well as foreigners, travelling in tribal areas are provided armed escorts, for security reasons.