At least 17 sugar mill workers are still missing in Dera Ismail Khan after armed men stopped two vehicles on the Indus Highway overnight and took their occupants away — the latest mass abduction to rattle Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's volatile southern belt.
According to reports, the incident happened on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday within the jurisdiction of Paroa Police Station. Armed men intercepted a passenger coach travelling from Dera Ghazi Khan to Rawalpindi near Cheera Minor and took several passengers away. In the same sweep, security guards travelling in a sugar mill bus were also abducted.
DI Khan abduction: five released, 17 still missing
Five of the abducted passengers — identified as Arsalan, Majid, Kashif, Shiraz and Hammad — were later released from what reports describe as the Hassan Coach. The freed men told officials they walked for approximately four hours before reaching safety.
But 17 workers of the sugar mills remain unaccounted for. Their disappearance has triggered fear and panic across the area, with families described as deeply distressed over the fate of their loved ones.
Protest blocks the Indus Highway
As news of the missing workers spread, residents took to the streets. Demonstrators staged a protest at Paroa Adda, blocking the main Indus Highway — a vital artery linking Punjab with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa — to demand the safe recovery of the abducted men.
Police say an operation is underway to recover the missing workers and that several teams have been formed for the purpose. No group has claimed responsibility, and officials have not said who they believe is behind the abduction. The blockade has disrupted traffic on one of the country's busiest north-south road links, adding pressure on authorities to resolve the standoff quickly.
A pattern of abductions in the region
Dera Ismail Khan sits in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's southern districts, a region that has seen repeated militant-linked kidnappings. Just days ago, 20 police trainees were abducted in Mastung, Balochistan, in a separate incident. The DI Khan abduction — targeting ordinary coach passengers and mill workers on a major highway — underscores how exposed civilian travel remains in the area despite ongoing security operations.
Why it matters
Seventeen missing workers, a blocked national highway, and panicked families: the DI Khan abduction is a major security incident with immediate human cost. Mass kidnappings of civilians strain public confidence in the state's ability to secure key roads, and the protest at Paroa Adda shows local patience wearing thin. How quickly police recover the workers — and whether the abductors are identified — will shape the response in the coming days.
What happens next
Police search teams are combing the Paroa area and surrounding routes. The released passengers' accounts — including the four-hour walk to safety — may help investigators trace where the captives were taken. Residents have vowed to keep up pressure until all 17 workers are recovered. GlobalDeskNews will update this story as official information emerges.
Key Takeaways
- At least 17 sugar mill workers remain missing after armed men abducted them near Cheera Minor on the Indus Highway in DI Khan overnight Tuesday–Wednesday.
- Five passengers — Arsalan, Majid, Kashif, Shiraz and Hammad — were released from the Hassan Coach and walked about four hours to safety.
- Residents blocked the Indus Highway at Paroa Adda, demanding the workers' safe recovery.
- Police say several teams are searching for the missing workers; no group has claimed responsibility.
- The incident follows the abduction of 20 police trainees in Mastung, Balochistan, days earlier.
FAQs
What happened in DI Khan?
On the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, unidentified armed men stopped a passenger coach travelling from Dera Ghazi Khan to Rawalpindi and a sugar mill bus near Cheera Minor on the Indus Highway, within Paroa Police Station's jurisdiction in Dera Ismail Khan. They abducted several passengers and sugar mill workers.
How many people are still missing?
At least 17 sugar mill workers remained missing as of Wednesday evening, according to reports. Five abducted passengers were released. Police have formed several teams to trace and recover those still missing.
Who were the released passengers?
The five released men were identified as Arsalan, Majid, Kashif, Shiraz and Hammad. They had been taken from the Hassan Coach and, according to their accounts, walked for approximately four hours before reaching safety.
Why is the Indus Highway blocked?
Residents staged a protest at Paroa Adda and blocked the main Indus Highway to demand the safe recovery of the 17 missing sugar mill workers. The highway is a key route connecting Punjab with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Has anyone claimed responsibility?
No. Reports describe the perpetrators only as unidentified armed men, and no group has claimed responsibility. Police say an operation is underway but have not publicly named suspects.
Is this connected to the Mastung abduction?
There is no confirmed link. Days earlier, 20 police trainees were abducted in Mastung, Balochistan — a separate incident in a different province. Both highlight the ongoing kidnapping threat facing civilians and security personnel in Pakistan's western regions.
By GlobalDeskNews Staff
Sources
- The Express Tribune — "17 sugar mill workers remain missing after abduction in K-P's DI Khan" (Oct 21, 2026): tribune.com.pk
- Pakistan Today — "Seventeen sugar mill workers remain missing after DI Khan abduction" (Oct 21, 2026): pakistantoday.com.pk
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