The deceased Pole

Piotr Stańczak, the Polish engineer kidnapped in Pakistan over four months ago, has been murdered by Talibani terrorists. Polish Foreign Ministry has analyzed the video footage of the execution, and said it "looked authentic". The authorities also advised the media not to air the footage. 

Piotr Stańczak, a geologist working for the Polish "Geofizyka" company in Pakistan, was abducted on the 28th of September last year. His car was ambushed and the Pakistani driver and bodyguards were killed on the spot. Soon after the kidnapping, Talibani terrorists released the videotaped appeal of the victim.

Then for four months, negotiations between the terrorists, the Pakistani government and the Polish authorities were conducted in secrecy. At the end of January this year, the case surfaced again, when the Taliban announced that they set an ultimatum. The deadline was the 4th of February, later extended by two more days. Then, on Saturday morning, news broke of the alleged death of the Polish hostage. On Sunday, a tape appeared in some media and on the Internet, showing what is considered to be the last footage of the hostage alive.

Polish Foreign Minister has vowed to track down those responsible for the brutal killing. An international arrest warrant is to be issued by the Justice Ministry as soon as possible. Polish Foreign Ministry also advised the media not to air the footage of the execution.

The "Geofizyka" company, which employed the deceased Pole, has withdrawn from Pakistan. There are several more Polish companies in the region, which are considering doing the same.

Click on the audio icon to listen to the entire report by Joanna Najfeld.