My abduction was directly aimed at my father, says Ali Haider Gillani

MULTAN (92 News) – Ali Haider Gillani, son of former prime minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani has on Tuesday said that the al Qaeda had abducted him as his father was the prime minister when Osama bin Laden was killed and he also started an operation in Swat and South Waziristan. In an interview with the British Broadcasting Company, he said that apart from the ransom the al Qaeda had kidnapped him for the release of high profile al Qaeda prisoners. Gillani said that first he was taken to Faisalabad then he was moved to the tribal areas of North Waziristan after two and a half months from where he was shifted to Afghanistan. "I was chained for two years," he said. "I was kept in a small room, not allowed to see the sky for one year and two months. I forgot how the sun felt on my skin." He said that he was handed over to Taliban afterthe killing of al Qaeda in Sub-Continent commander and an American citizen abducted from Lahore in a drone attack. Ali Haider Gillani further said he regularly writes diary. I had a diary where I tried to keep track of time and jot down day-to-day thoughts: "It kept me sane." "I prayed a lot. I used to think of my son and say I have to survive for him." Ali Haider said that the Taliban liked cricket and they listened to the commentary of world cup match between Pakistan and South Africa. Ali Haider Gillani, the son of former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gillani was recovered from Afghanistan’s Ghazni province, during a joint operation of US-Afghan forces. He was reunited with his family in Lahore. Heavily armed men had kidnapped former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani’s son Ali Haider after killing his secretary in Pakistan’s Punjab province three years ago. Ali Haider, 27, was campaigning in Mati area of Multan, 350 km from Lahore, when the gunmen intercepted his SUV and fired indiscriminately. The gunmen, who came to the spot on motorcycles and a car, took Ali Haider away with them.