Pakistani embassy official kidnapped in Baghdad

Pakistan appealed on Sunday, to an insurgent group who kidnapped, an official in its Baghdad embassy, in the latest kidnapping of a foreigner in Iraq.

“I appeal to the kidnappers to release Malik Mohammad Javed. He is a civilian member of the embassy staff,” Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told a news conference. “The government of Pakistan strongly condemns this incident.”

More than 150 foreigners have been taken hostage in Iraq in the past year. Many have been eventually released but dozens have been killed, sometimes by beheading.

In the latest news a militant group Omar bin Khattab, claimed to have kidnapped a Pakistani Malik Mohammad Javed, working in the country’s embassy in Baghdad, officials in Pakistan said on Sunday, confirming the latest abduction of a foreigner in Iraq’s lawless capital.

The deputy of the Pakistani charge d’affaires, Malik Mohammad Javed, went missing after prayers on Saturday in Baghdad. His daughter alerted the embassy and police searched for him overnight. “Malik Javed has contacted our charge d’affaires in Baghdad informing that he is safe,” the statement added.

The statement, which did not mention if any ransom had been demanded, said all possible efforts were being made to ensure the safe release of the official.

An embassy official and Iraqi police identified Javed as the Pakistani consul, but Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said he was an embassy staff member, not a diplomat.

In the Iraqi capital, embassy official Mohammed Bashir Alim said the mission had decided not to involve the police and was waiting for information on Javed.

Pakistan, a key U.S. ally in its war on terror, did not back the invasion of Iraq.
Last year militants killed two Pakistani hostages after demanding that their employer, which did work for a U.S. company, halt operations in Iraq.

Putting a stop to rampant kidnapping is one of the major security challenges facing Iraq’s post-election government.
Iraq’s human rights minister said last week that 5,000 Iraqis had been abducted.

A government statement said Iraqi police recently rescued eight hostages and recovered large weapons caches near SalmanPak, a guerrilla stronghold southeast of Baghdad.

During Sunday’s National Assembly meeting, parliament speaker Hajim al-Hassani called for relaxing security measures that have snarled traffic and closed many Baghdad streets only when lawmakers meet.

Many residents have complained about the increased security in a city already under tight control. Some lawmakers said Sunday they had been insulted and mistreated by Iraqi police at checkpoints.

“These measures are highly exaggerated and they hinder the work of the employees and the movement of the citizens,” he said. “We asked the security officials to relax these measures.”

He said the assembly will officially inform the authorities of their request.
“We are keen on guaranteeing the security of the members of the National Assembly, but we are also keen on allowing people to do their jobs,” he said.