CTD forms investigation team to probe kidnapping of Chinese nationals

QUETTA: A three-member investigation committee has been formed to probe kidnapping of two Chinese nationals from affluent Jinnah Town here under supervision of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), ARY News reported.

An FIR of the kidnapping of two Chinese nationals has been lodged at Jinnah Town police station here against unidentified armed kidnappers under kidnapping, gun attack, and anti-terrorism charges.

The law enforcement agencies including Balochistan Frontier Corps (FC) and Police conducted overnight raids at surrounding areas on suspicion of kidnappers’ presence in the areas, sources said.

It is pertinent to mention here that a Chinese couple was kidnapped from Jinnah Town in Quetta yesterday. ” The couple were running a Chinese language centre,” senior local police official Aitzaz Goraya told media.

“When they left the language centre for lunch, they were dragged into a vehicle without number plates by four unknown men,” he said. The men then began firing in the air to scare off onlookers.

A Chinese woman managed to escape and ran back to the centre, while a passer-by received a gunshot wound.

According to eye witnesses, four unidentified armed men in a silver car dragged the abductees into car on gun point. A man was also injured in firing by the kidnappers when he attempted to interrupt them.

No group has claimed responsibility of kidnapping the foreign nationals so far.

Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan have beefed up security in the city while increasing patrolling and checking at its check posts along Quetta RCD Highway.

It is worth mentioning here that various Chinese projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are underway in the province including Gwadar sea port.

Chinese state media confirmed the kidnappings, while deputy chief of mission in Islamabad Lijian Zhao said the embassy was working toward their release.