UN Peacekeepers Released after Capture in Golan

Four UN peacekeepers that were captured and held against their will for almost a week in Golan have been freed by a Syrian rebel group known as the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade.

Only last Tuesday, the peacekeepers, who were serving in the UN Disengagement Observer Force, were captured in Golan, near Jamlah town.

Although the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade claimed responsibility for hold the peacekeepers, they defended themselves claiming that they did it to “secure and protect” the men from getting killed in the shelling carried out by Assad’s security forces.

 
It was learnt that the four peacekeepers of Philippine origins have been transferred to Israel shortly after their release. 

Former Pakistan PM’s Son Abducted at Election Rally

Ex Prime Minister Raza Gilani

There has been a report that the son of former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has been abducted by unidentified gunmen during his own campaign rally at their hometown of Multan on Thursday.

A candidate for the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), Ali Haider was kidnapped in an ensuing gunfire during the rally. His secretary was reported to have been killed in the process, leaving several others with scores of injuries.

Police officer Khurram Shakur told reporters that people came on a motorbike and a black Honda car. Then, they opened fire at the rally, and abducted Gilani’s son, Ali Haider in the car.

Eyewitnesses added that Ali Haider was injured in the gun attack, as he was bleeding when his abductors put him in the car.

Mr Gilani has accused his political rivals as being the perpetrators of the crime, ahead of Saturday’s elections.

“We want our brother back tonight. If we don’t get him, we will not allow elections to be held in our area,” elder brother of Haider, Musa, told reporters in tears.

“There is a war going on between pro- and anti-Taliban forces in this country. They have captured the son of our leader. We are saddened by this and praying that he is safely recovered”, former interior minister Rehman Malik told an Al Jazeera correspondent.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Although, the Pakistani Taliban has promised to dispatch suicide bombers to carry out attacks at the upcoming election, as they have threatened to prevent all parties from conducting any election.