04 March 2005	Friday	22 Muharram 1426

KARACHI, March 3: An employee of a multinational company and his driver were recovered after an encounter in which three suspected kidnappers were killed and a policeman wounded on the city outskirts near Hub on Thursday.

Faisal Khan, 30, an engineer working with Siemens Pakistan was kidnapped by unknown persons along with his driver, Imran, late Wednesday night from SITE Town. Their Suzuki Photohar jeep was found abandoned by the police in Vinder Balochistan on Thursday.

Following the kidnapping, the family received a ransom call demanding Rs40 million for their release, police said. Police with the assistance of the CPLC traced the cell phone signals and subsequently raided a house in the Shaikh Mohallah in Mawagh Goth.

A shootout took place in which the suspected ringleader of the kidnapper's gang, Razzak Commando, managed to flee while his brother-in- law, Javed, and two other associates were killed by the police.

Following the shootout, the police recovered both hostages from the house, which is said to be owned by Razzak Commando. A policeman was also injured in the encounter, who was shifted to the nearby Murshid Hospital for treatment. He was later shifted to the Aga Khan Hospital for further treatment.

The identities of the other two suspects could not be established immediately. Razzak Commando is believed to be a close associate of the outlawed, Arshad Pappu.