Family sources state that on August 24, Mr. Akram, a 25-year-old from Gilgit-Baltistan’s Yasin Valley, left his house in quest of work. Later, as part of a scheme to enter Iraq illegally through Pakistan and proceed to Italy, he got in touch with a travel agency in Gujrat.
Mr. Akram left for Balochistan with two friends from Punjab. The last the family heard from Mr. Akram was early on August 25, when he called from Dalbandin, Balochistan, according to his uncle Younas Ali.
All communication has been lost since then. There are worries that Mr. Akram and his friends have been kidnapped after a video that was made public that day purports to show them in an unidentified location.
