Punjab police successfully rescued Intezar Hussain Panjutha, lawyer for PTI founder Imran Khan, following a shootout with suspected kidnappers.
The incident occurred late Saturday night in Attock when police stopped a suspicious vehicle during a routine patrol. Upon realizing it was a gang of kidnappers with an abducted individual, the suspects fired at the police, sparking an exchange of gunfire. The kidnappers fled, abandoning both Panjutha and their vehicle. Panjutha, who had been missing since last month, was safely secured by police.
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The Islamabad High Court, where a case on Panjutha’s disappearance was ongoing, had received a commitment from Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan for his recovery within 24 hours. After his release, Panjutha, who alleged severe torture during his captivity, was taken to a hospital. He stated he had been kidnapped for a ransom of Rs20 million by Pashto-speaking abductors.