RAWALPINDI, Dec 27: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate for the slot of district naib nazim, Ziaullah Shah, was kidnapped from Khana police chowki area (Islamabad) on Tuesday night, police said. Immediately after the incident, police in the twin cities were put on alert and a large-scale hunt was launched to trace the missing candidate.

When contacted, additional superintendent of police Islamabad Asim Gulzar while quoting the close aides of Mr Shah said he was going to Gulzar-i-Quaid in his vehicle when four unidentified persons in a black car, two of them carrying Kalashnikoves, intercepted them on a service road near the police chowki.

The unidentified persons dragged Mr Shah and Hafiz Farooq Khattak out of the vehicle and took them away. However, Mr Khattak was later freed, the official added.

He said it would be premature to say what had exactly happened as the police were examining the scene of crime in the light of statements given by the people who had been close to the kidnap victim.

The official said instead of seeking help from the police deputed a few meters from the scene of the crime, Mr Shah’s aides first contacted their relatives and supporters, which caused the delay.