Nepal Foreign Affairs (KATHMANDU, 9 April) – A Pakistani Retired Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Habib went missing during his visit in Lumbini of Nepal, Pakistan government has informed on Sunday.
Confirming the report, Spokesperson of Pakistan’s Foreign Office Nafees Zakariya said that the matter has also been brought into the notice of Nepal’s government and Pakistani Embassy in Kathmandu.
Immediately after the Pakistan’s request, Nepal government has initiated the investigation. The Officials of Ministry of Home and Foreign Affairs have conveyed the officials of Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu that the investigation has already been begun and special heed has been paid.
Lietenant Colonel (retd) Habib went to Nepal on 6 April looking for a job, according to his family. Habib left for Nepal on 5 April and reached Kathmandu on 6 April, then left for the Lumbini the same day. Lumbini is 6-kilometres away from Indian border.
According to the Pakistan Defence Ministry, he had contacted his family last on 6 April immediately he landed in Lumbini and after that he could not be reached. His wife has registered FIR requesting the Pakistani government to rescue him.
According to the initial investigation Habib who served in the artillery, retired from service on 31 Oct, 2014 and was employed in Rafhan Mills at Faisalabad. Just over a few months ago, he posted his CV on LinkedIn and a United Nations Website. In response to his CV a month ago, a person named Mr. Mark Thomson from UK contacted him through the email: [email protected] stating that he has been shortlisted for the job of the Vice President/Zonal Director.
Habib was offered salary package of US$3500-8500 per month and was asked to visit Kathmandu, Nepal for the interview on 6 April, 2017. He was sent a business class ticket from Lahore-Oman-Kathmandu by Oman Airlines. Travel records show that the Officer traveled to Oman by flight number WY344 on 5 April. Investigation reveal that some Javed Ansari, received Lt Col Muhammad Habib at Oman and handed him over Nepal Cell no 009779813848689.
Record shows that Lt Col Muhammad Habaib retd arrived Kathmandu on 6th April, 2017 and same day he left Kathmandu airport for Lumbini by Buddah Air. At 1300 on 6th April, 2017 he send a message from his cell to his wife that he has landed at Lumbini, municipality 5km away from Indian border safely. Since then his cell nos (Nepal and Pakistan) are switched off and no trace of him has been found. His family is in great distress fearing that he might have been trapped by the Indian Govt agencies, namely RAW, Pakistan government has claimed.
Pakistan officials have claimed that Habib has been systematically trapped by the Indian Govt agencies to later blame him for some non existent crime or to use him as a leverage to get the Indian spy Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav released by holding an innocent Pakistani citizen as ransom.
The officilas said, ” In doing so the Indian govt has not only committed an international crime of kidnapping a citizen of another state but also committed a flagrant violation of Nepalese sovereignty. It is hoped that the Govt of Pakistan will leave no stone un turned to secure his safe return with the help of the Nepalese Govt.”