QUETTA: Unidentified assailants on Monday kidnapped Secretary Higher Education and Colleges Department, Balochistan Abdullah Khan Brori from a roadside in Quetta, ARY News reported.
According to police, the vehicle of the official was found abandoned on the road, however kidnappers could not be tracked as yet. Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Sananullah Zehri has expressed serious concern on the incident and sought report from the officials concerned.
He also directed the law enforcement agencies to immediately recover the abducted official.
Security had been stepped up at the main crossing point into Afghanistan at Chaman, 100 km (60 miles) northwest of Quetta, and at other points along the border to stop the kidnappers taking their hostage into Afghanistan, a recent report by Reuters said.
Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.
Incidents of kidnapping have increased in Pakistan over the past year, especially in the northwest in areas on the border with Afghanistan.
