Son of SHC CJ Awais Shah recovered in KP raid

Advocate Awais Ali Shah, kidnapped son of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, has been recovered after an intelligence based operation at Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Director General ISPR Lt. General Asim Bajwa disclosed Shah's recovery on Tuesday through a pre-dawn tweet. Three terrorists were also killed during the operation. "Awais Shah son of Sind Chief Justice recovered through an IBO from custody of terrorists from near Tank,3 terrorists killed," Bajwa tweeted. Rangers personnel drove Shah to his home on Tuesday morning as people in the neighbourhood distributed sweets to celebrate his recovery.

Shah was transported to Faisal Base Karachi from Tank in a special aircraft and later shifted to his home under tight security. Speaking to journalists as he was reunited with his son, SHC CJ Sajjad Ali Shah hailed the armed forces for the successful recovery of his son Awais Ali Shah. Although Awais Shah made a brief appearance, he did not talk to media personnel. "All credit goes to the army," said the judge, adding that the army chief had been personally monitoring the team formed by DG ISI to recover his son.

When asked what role the government played in his son's recovery, CJ said the "army is not separate from the government". "Gen Raheel Sharif called me at 3 in the night and told me that my son has been recovered." "He was kind enough to let me talk to my son when I asked, and he was kind enough to arrange a plane and got him here from Tank."

The judge said he had "absolutely no idea" about which group was behind the kidnapping. "All I know at this time is that my son is back." ISPR had earlier said Awais Ali Shah was safe and sound in the possession of security forces and will be transported back to his parents during the day.

Bajwa also announced that the chief of army staff commended efforts of the Intelligence and security forces for successful operation. He also called and congratulated the CJ Sindh on recovery of his son. "COAS commended efforts of Int &security forces for successful op.COAS also called &congratulated CJ Sind on recovery of his son."

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also congratulated the CJ Sajjad Ali Shah on the recovery of his son and praised security forces. "The Prime Minister lauded the role of intelligence agencies and security forces in recovering Mr. Awais Shah and said that the professional and operational excellence of our security forces has made it possible for which they deserve immense appreciation," a statement issued by his office said. Shah was abducted on June 20 from Clifton area of Karachi. According to officials, Shah, a high court lawyer, had left the SHC for Clifton to meet a friend, but did not reach there and his phone remained switched off.

Later it was confirmed that he had been kidnapped. A special investigation team had been constituted on the directives of the Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah to probe the abduction of Shah, while the Rangers had announced a reward of Rs2,500,000 for credible information regarding the whereabouts of Awais Ali Shah. Earlier police officials were fearing that Shah would be used as a 'bargaining chip' to ensure release of some captured militants.

"This was a TTP splinter group with some Al Qaeda elements," said Bajwa, explaining the affiliation of Shah's kidnappers. "Intelligence agencies were working at a 'surge rate'. There was a whole chain of people who were awake to make this operation a success last night and there is always some operation of this scale going on."

Bajwa also allayed suspicions, saying there is no information that any political party was involved in the kidnapping.