Safe escape: Pakistani nationals detained in Afghan private prison

Two Pakistani nationals are detained in a private prison in Badakhshan province of Afghanistan, alleged an electrical engineer from Charssada, Ishtiaq Ahmad, who recently escaped from the jail himself.
Ishtiaq said 24-year-old Fazl-e-Karim from Charsadda and 28-year-old Arif Irshad were working with him as labourers in a construction company. Ishtiaq, however, managed to escape and cross the border.
Speaking about his experiences at a press conference on Monday, Ishtiaq said he started working at the Memaraan-e-Parenda Construction Company (MPCC) in 2008 as a construction supervisor. MPCC is an Afghan company registered with the American Council of Engineering Companies, which has offices in Kabul, Kandahar and Badakhshan. “My job was to supervise and provide labour for the company.”

Ishtiaq added that the required construction material provided for a building was by MPCC owner Ahmad Dardi. “After the project was complete, the engineering council declared the work unsatisfactory. Dardi asked me to take responsibility to save the face of the company in front of the council.
He told me to arrange a meeting with the council, but I refused as I had informed the company several times about the faulty material, but they gave no heed,” he said.

“When we did not agree, Dardi and his two companions took the three of us to Shanan and locked us in their private prison. They threatened to kill us if we did not take responsibility for the incident.”
Escape was not easy for Ishtiaq. “They had kept my picture at every check post and the police was searching for me.”
He added that during the period of detention their visas expired and Dardi had threatened them of dire consequences if they tried to escape.
According to detainee Irshad’s uncle Hussain Ahmad, a jirga was sent to negotiate with Dardi, but he refused to let the prisoners go. “The only option left is to approach the Human Rights Commission to help secure the release of our family members.”
Ahmad said the company’s owner had contacted him and demanded Rs7 million in ransom for the release of the two men.

Hundreds of Pakistanis are working with local and international donor agencies in different cities in Afghanistan as labourers or low-rank employees. Many deported labourers have similar stories of humiliation and abuse.
“Pakistani nationals are looked upon with suspicion by the army and considered as enemies by the Afghans citizens,” Ishtiaq said.