“The 11 labourers have been released and they are safe and sound,” Hamza Shafqaat, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), told Dawn, adding that they had been moved to a safe location.

The labourers were abducted at gunpoint after a group of unidentified armed men attacked the SMC Construction Company camp in Palri, Duki district, on September 26. The attackers also set several vehicles on fire.

One private security guard was killed and another person was injured in the attack.

Following the incident, police launched a search operation to trace the abducted workers.

However, one of the abductees, identified as Shahid, was killed by the kidnappers, who later dumped his body in Kohlu, Dawn News reported.

According to sources cited by the newspaper, authorities sought the assistance of tribal elders, who held lengthy negotiations with the kidnappers to secure the labourers’ release.

The remaining 11 labourers were eventually freed following the negotiations, the reports said.