By Staff Reporter
PESHAWAR: A young man abducted in Pakistan’s conservative North Waziristan tribal district for filming and sharing a viral video of a girl playing cricket was released on Saturday after mediation by local elders, police and activists said.
The case laid bare ongoing tensions over women’s visibility in the region. Zafran Wazir was taken by unidentified individuals from the remote Shewa tehsil on Friday evening, shortly after the clip of 10-year-old Aina Wazir bowling gained widespread attention on social media, according to District Police Officer Sajjad Hussain. “The person who made the video has been abducted by unknown persons in the evening,” Hussain said, adding that investigations were underway but the abductors had not been identified and no group had claimed responsibility.
During his captivity, a video circulated on social media in which Wazir sat in a dimly lit room and said sharing the footage was a “mistake” that some saw as contrary to Islam and Pashtun traditions. “She was a minor girl and her bowling impressed, but the video went too viral,” Wazir said in the clip. “I am now with unknown persons. I have done mistake and will not use social media this way again.”
Local activist Ibrahim Pashteen, who took part in efforts to secure his release, said Wazir was freed through a jirga, or tribal council. “He has been released after the involvement of a jirga,” Pashteen said. Residents welcomed Wazir home with garlands, and videos of the reception spread online.
The incident points up divisions in North Waziristan, a border district once a stronghold for militant groups that enforced strict curbs on women’s activities, including sports and education. Though security has improved after military operations in the late 2010s, conservative Pashtun norms still restrict female public presence. Aina’s family has since moved her to a safer location due to concerns over backlash, a relative said on condition of anonymity.
The original video drew praise and prompted Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi to announce on X that she would join the franchise’s upcoming women’s league. “We will ensure she is provided with all necessary cricket equipment and proper facilities so she gets the opportunity she truly deserves to grow and shine and become the next Saira Jabeen,” Afridi said. Aina responded by pledging to work hard to represent Pakistan’s women’s team and thanked Afridi, who she said had given her the “biggest moment” of her life.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also commended the clip on X. “It is truly heartening to witness such extraordinary raw talent emerging from our soil, a powerful reminder of the immense potential within our youth,” Kundi said, adding he hoped Aina would receive training and support to refine her skills.
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