From M Zulqernain
Lahore, Aug 25 (PTI) Amid conflicting reports over the fate of an American national in Pakistan who was kidnapped earlier this month from Lahore, the city police chief today said they had failed to recover him, but had arrested several suspects.
"We got the lead but could not succeed in recovering the American from the kidnappers'' custody," Lahore Police chief Ahmed Raza Tahir said.
He said the police had arrested several suspects and they were being quizzed.
Earlier in the day, reports said the law enforcement agencies had conducted an operation in Khushab district, over 200 kilometres from here. There were conflicting reports that Dr Warren Weinstein had been recovered from the kidnappers'' custody.
Sources said the operation could not succeed as the kidnappers had shifted the American to another unknown place.
Tahir blamed the media for leaking ''sensitive information''.
"We also have not conducted any operation in Khushab," Tahir clarified.
It is said the kidnappers got alerted when the operation''s news broke in some TV channels.
Dr Weinstein, the country head for J E Austen Associates (works for Economic Growth and Private Sector Development and also associated with USAID''s projects was kidnapped by eight or so masked men from his Lahore residence in the posh Model Town area on August 13.
The police said the agencies got the lead from the three suspects picked up from different places in Gujranwala, some 80 kilometres from here, a few days ago.
Lahore, Aug 25 (PTI) Amid conflicting reports over the fate of an American national in Pakistan who was kidnapped earlier this month from Lahore, the city police chief today said they had failed to recover him, but had arrested several suspects.
"We got the lead but could not succeed in recovering the American from the kidnappers'' custody," Lahore Police chief Ahmed Raza Tahir said.
He said the police had arrested several suspects and they were being quizzed.
Earlier in the day, reports said the law enforcement agencies had conducted an operation in Khushab district, over 200 kilometres from here. There were conflicting reports that Dr Warren Weinstein had been recovered from the kidnappers'' custody.
Sources said the operation could not succeed as the kidnappers had shifted the American to another unknown place.
Tahir blamed the media for leaking ''sensitive information''.
"We also have not conducted any operation in Khushab," Tahir clarified.
It is said the kidnappers got alerted when the operation''s news broke in some TV channels.
Dr Weinstein, the country head for J E Austen Associates (works for Economic Growth and Private Sector Development and also associated with USAID''s projects was kidnapped by eight or so masked men from his Lahore residence in the posh Model Town area on August 13.
The police said the agencies got the lead from the three suspects picked up from different places in Gujranwala, some 80 kilometres from here, a few days ago.