Pakistani journalist kidnapped by Sindh bandits; ransom demanded

A reporter for a Sindhi-language television channel, Fayyaz Solangi, has been kidnapped by bandits in the Kacha area of Khairpur district in Pakistan's southern Sindh province.

Solangi was abducted while riding his motorcycle near a sugarcane field. Eyewitnesses said more than ten armed men, traveling in a car and on motorcycles, forcibly took him away.

The kidnappers later released a video showing Solangi sitting on the ground, visibly distressed. In the video, he pleads with his family and authorities to arrange a ransom of PKR 10 million for his release.

The incident has drawn swift attention from local officials. Sindh's Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar has directed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Sukkur to provide updates on the case. A task force has been formed to conduct targeted operations for Solangi’s recovery.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also took notice of the abduction. He instructed Inspector General (IG) Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon to submit a detailed report and ensure all possible measures are taken for the journalist's release.

“This incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by journalists in the region. We will make every effort to bring Solangi back safely,” a senior police official said.

Journalist kidnappings in Sindh are not uncommon. In April 2023, reporters Irfan Kalhoro and Paryal Dayo were abducted, tortured, and sexually assaulted in Sindh's Pano Aqil district. In another case, the body of journalist Ghulam Rasool Birhamani was found in May 2010 after he was reported missing, raising concerns of foul play.

Authorities have vowed to intensify their crackdown on the perpetrators behind Solangi’s abduction, as pressure mounts to ensure the safety of journalists in Sindh.