Recover the Chinese teachers

Notwithstanding the government's repeated claims of having secured the province against lawlessness and violence, Balochistan remains a rich harvest to reap by kidnappers. In the latest kidnapping, on Wednesday, two Chinese teachers were abducted from the heart of Quetta, in broad daylight. The victims, including a woman, were not part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), but their kidnapping cannot be delinked from the security of the project and remains a serious concern of both China and Pakistan. Surprisingly, in the volatile province that Quetta has been for some decades now, the pair, who were part of a group of three, did not have a security cover. There was no police around when the criminals snatched them. That the third escaped being kidnapped was due to a heroic fight by a passerby, Haji Muhammad Zahir, who just wouldn't let the kidnappers carry her away. The kidnappers were in the CIA uniforms, but the passerby couldn't take it that a woman should be dragged by force, even by members of the Criminal Investigation Agency. "Show me your identity," he bellowed. Their response was a bullet to his leg. As for the local police, as per their established custom, they arrived well after the kidnapping episode was over, though they did complete the necessary formalities. And in line with common practice, the chief minister immediately suspended the deputy superintendent and station house officer of the area for not providing security to the Chinese nationals who lived in the officials' jurisdiction.
The kidnapping of foreigners in Pakistan has been quite a popular pastime with criminals, for ransom, for example. But with the inauguration of work on the CPEC projects the manpower is expected to be a lucrative target for kidnapping, particularly by the country's opponents and enemies. And since Balochistan is going to be one of the principal beneficiaries of the CPEC projects, it is likely to be an attractive target for both kidnapping and sabotage. Early this month, about a dozen labourers working on a road project in Gwadar district were killed by unidentified gunmen. In 2004, four Chinese working at the Gomal Zam Dam were kidnapped, most probably for ransom. But the authorities concerned made a botch of the rescue effort - two of the victims lost their lives in the rescue operation. Given that unhappy experience, the Quetta police can be expected to be more efficient in their efforts to recover the kidnapped teachers. The clues available so far are quite revealing, and if they are earnestly worked on, the police can be expected to trace the culprits. As a first-hand, witness Haji Mohammad Zahir could identify the kidnappers from their possible records with the police. And Nadra could help. The kidnappers were in a white car, and traffic officials do keep records of registered vehicles, including their colour. There could be a list with the police of suspects capable of such crimes, who could be questioned. Above everything else, however, the focus should be on the safe recovery of the kidnapped Chinese teachers - whatever it takes.