The family of a Pakistani engineer, who was working in South Sudan, claims he has been kidnapped by the rebels from the country's capital city of Juba, South Punjab News reported.
A resident of Sindh's Badin district, Ayaz Hussain Jamali baloch was an employee of DAR Petroleum Operating Company in Sudan.
It is pertinent to mention here that two Indian engineers of the same oil company have also been kidnapped, Scroll.in reported.
But so far neither the Indian Embassy in Juba nor the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has made a statement regarding the kidnappings yet.
The Pakistani engineer's younger brother, Babar Jamali, who also works in the same oil company informed the family in Badin that Ayaz was kidnapped over a week ago.
The family claims it has made fervent appeals to Pakistan foreign ministry to take up the issue with the Pakistan Ambassador in South Sudan and expedite efforts for Ayaz's early recovery.
The Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also been contacted for a comment in this regard, however, they are yet to comment on the issue.
According to Hindustan Times, the South Sudan government has refused to pay the rebels a ransom of $1 million. South Sudan has been marred by ethnic tension and civil war since 2013.Two Indian oil engineers have been captured by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition, rebel group that claims they were working with the country’s government. The news was confirmed by the group’s spokesperson William Gatjiath Deng on Friday. The engineers have been identified as Ambross Edward and Muggy Vijaya Boopathy who worked at an oilfield in Guelguk North along the Upper Nile.
Boopathy and Edward were captured during a fierce battle between government and rebel forces, the South Sudan Tribune reported. Deng said the Indians “refused to respect repeated warnings from the military command of the armed opposition”. Exiled Opposition leader Riek Machar will decide on what to do with them, Deng added, according to Hindustan Times. The group has been warning foreign oil workers from entering production sites in the country.
Neither the Indian Embassy in Juba not the Ministry of External Affairs has made a statement yet.
Oil production is a large contributor to South Sudan’s economy. The country has been ravaged by ethnic tension and civil war since 2013. It was culled out of Sudan in 2011 after 98.83% of its population voted for separation after a referendum.
