Mercy Corps shuts down offices in Balochistan after its driver’s murder

The Baloch Hal News

QUETTA: A United States-based aid organization, Mercy Corps (MC), has decided to close down at least fifty (50) offices in Balochistan and Sindh provinces following the killing of one of its drivers by his abductors after being kidnapped along with three other workers of the organization.

Four employees of Mercy Corps, Ifthakar Ahmed Shah, Babrak, Mohammad Asif and driver Habibullah Kakar, had been kidnapped by unidentified armed men at Qila Saifullah when they were on their way from Zhob to Quetta o February 18.

The kidnappers, who have been asking for hefty sums for ransom, killed driver Habibullah Kakar recently after the failure of the aid organization and the family members of the kidnapped driver to comply with their demands.

Haji Mohammad Hanif Kakar, a close relative of the slain driver, confirmed the killing and told the media that he had visited the Mercy Corps office along with two other family members, Haji Mohammad Hassan and Haji Abdul Sattar, where they were informed that the organization administration had received a CD from the kidnappers showing the driver being beheaded by the kidnappers.

“The video showed masked kidnappers taking Habibullah in the mountainous areas where he was slaughtered by his captors,” said Hanif Kakar.

Another family member of Habibullah also confirmed having watched the CD in which the late driver is shown being slaughtered.

The kidnappers, who are asking for a ransom of Rs. One million ransom, have threatened to kill the other three abducted workers if their demands are not met.

Balochistan chief of Mercy Corps Dr. Saadullah confirmed with closure of all offices of his organization in Balochistan and Sindh after the killing of driver Habibullah. He citied ‘insecurity’ as the main reason for taking the crucial decision.

Mercy Corps was working on 25 different projects in various districts of Balochistan.

It is the first time that a staff member of a foreign non-governmental organization has been killed in Balochistan since the killing of a driver, Mohammad Hashim, of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the abduction of its American chief John Solecki.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of Red Cross had also decided to restrict its activities in Balochistan last month after receiving threats from the Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF).

Also read The Baloch Hal editorial: End of Mercy (Corps)?