KHYBER AGENCY: Relatives of 17 tribesmen kidnapped by unidentified militants over a month ago appealed to the Afghan Taliban for their release, on humanitarian grounds. Addressing a press conference on Sunday in a local ‘hujra’ (guest house), affected family members including: Safaresh Khan, Niaz Muhammad, Alam Noor; local clerics Mufti Mujahid, Mualana Mujahid; and children of the kidnapped, said all those abducted were dwellers of backward areas; who were daily wagers and lone bread earners of their families. Since the first day of their kidnapping, a sorrowful environment had grabbed the residents, they said, adding, they did not know who abducted their loved ones and for what purpose. They reiterated that majority of the abductees were daily wagers and the kidnappers would not succeed in getting any monetary advantages from them. They begged the abductors for mercy on humanitarian grounds. They also asked the Afghan government to play its due role in the release of their dear ones. 17 locals were kidnapped on September 5 while on a picnic and reportedly taken across the border to Afghanistan. Published in Daily Times, October 16th 2017.