ISLAMABAD – Indian media reports/tweets claimed that Col Habib is in Indiancustody and speculations about a swap with Commander Jadhav,
Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal on Wednesday said that theinvolvement of hostile agencies cannot be ruled out in the disappearance ofLieutenant Colonel (r) Habib Zahir.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal while responding to a mediaquery, regarding LT Col Habib said that Lt. Col. (Rtd) Habib Zahir is aretired Pakistani officer who went missing in Nepal, where he had gone fora job interview in April 2017.
The spokesperson added that according to Lt Col (r) Habib Zahir’s family,he had posted his CV on LinkedIn and UN website for a job. In response, hereceived a call and email from one Mr. Mark stating that he had beenshortlisted for the job of Vice President. He was asked to visit Kathmandu,Nepal for which he was sent air-ticket for Lahore-Oman-Kathmandu by OmanAirlines for an interview on 6 April 2017.
Dr Faisal said: “After landing in Nepal, which he visited for the firsttime in his life, he left Kathmandu airport (from where he had WhatsAppedhis pictures and boarding pass to his family), for Lumbini airport byBuddha Air. At 1300 hours on 6 April 2017, he messaged his wife from hiscellphone intimating that he had landed safely at Lumbini (a municipality 5kilometers from the Indian border) after which his mobile appeared switchedoff and his family lost contact with him.”
He said that investigations revealed that the UK cell number of Mr. Markwas fake and actually is an internet/computer generated number. The websitethat he was contacted from was found to be operated from India and wassubsequently taken down.
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The spokesman went on to say that the government of Nepal constituted aspecial team to look into his disappearance but there has not been anyprogress in the matter so far.
“In view of his disappearance from Lumbini, which is 5 kilometers from theIndian border and the involvement of Indian nationals (who reportedlyreceived him at Lumbini, made his hotel reservations and booked histickets), Pakistan also repeatedly requested the Indian government toassist in locating him. However, no positive response has been receivedfrom the Indian side. His family is very distressed and also approached theUN Working Group on Enforced Involuntary Disappearances in Geneva forassistance in locating him. His disappearance has also been reported inmedia, including outside Pakistan.”
“The government continues to make all out efforts to locate him and shallnot rest until he is home,” he added.
