Bannu hostages: 13 men taken in Hathi Khel while moving their families out

Militants have taken 13 residents hostage in Hathi Khel, in the Wazir subdivision of Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as families tried to move out of the area with their belongings. By Saturday evening there was no word on where the captives were being held or on their condition, and police had issued no official statement, although police sources confirmed the incident to reporters.

What happened

According to Dawn and The Express Tribune, the 13 men were travelling in vehicles loaded with household goods when they were stopped and taken away. Among them are four brothers and, separately, three brothers from another family; three of the 13 have not been identified.

Local sources told both papers the militants belong to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). A photograph circulating locally allegedly shows a local TTP commander, Nasir alias Gidarh, with the group, but neither paper could verify the identities in it.

Why families were leaving

Hathi Khel has seen rising tension between local peace committees, the police and militants. Residents say militants have imposed restrictions on families who want to leave and were trying to stop people moving out. There are unconfirmed reports that houses of families who did not comply were demolished. Several families had already moved to safer places before this group was stopped.

A violent week in southern KP

The kidnapping comes a day after a suicide attack on a checkpost at an Aman Mela in Darazinda, Dera Ismail Khan, killed 12 people (our report). Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan have been the focus of militant attacks and security operations for much of the year.

What to watch

• An official statement from Bannu police or the KP government on the hostages and any recovery operation.
• Whether families from Hathi Khel and nearby villages are given safe passage or temporary shelter.
• Any claim or demand from the group holding the men.

We will update this story when officials confirm the hostages' status.