ISLAMABAD – Around a dozen gunmen abducted an American national after breaking into his house in Lahore’s upscale Model Town locality on Saturday. Police said Warren Weinstein had told his staff that he was moving out of the country by Monday and wrapping up his latest project.
US embassy spokesman Alberto Rodriguez said Islamabad-based Weinstein worked for a private firm but frequently visited Lahore. “The embassy in Islamabad is working with the authorities in Lahore on the issue,” he added.
Police said Weinstein had been in Pakistan for five years and is the country director of J E Austin Associates that works with the US government’s aid arm involved in development work in the country’s tribal areas along the Afghan border. They refused to speculate on the motive behind the abduction.
Militant organizations have targeted foreigners but such abductions have been rare. Criminal gangs mostly carry out abductions for ransom that are common in Pakistan. Taliban had claimed that it had abducted a Swiss couple from Baluchistan province last month.
Lahore police’s Abdul Razaq Cheema said a group of nearly 10-12 people abducted Weinstein. “All guards and servants working at the house were taken into custody. We are investigating whether the abductors had inside support,” Cheema said.
