MIRAMSHAH, Nov 5: The political tehsildar of Shiwa in North Waziristan has been kidnapped.

Officials said Tehsildar Faizullah Khan was going from Mirali to Bannu when five masked men in a car stopped the coach he was travelling in and kidnapped him near Eppi village on Saturday.

Mirali Assistant Political Agent Inamullah Khan said investigations were under way to ascertain the whereabouts the kidnapped official and trace of his captors.

Meanwhile, NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai is scheduled to arrive here on Monday on a visit to the agency.

Sources said that despite the agreement signed in September and opening of offices by the Taliban, kidnapping, target killing and other crimes were on the rise in the agency. The militants have set up offices in Miramshah to restore peace, curb crimes and impose penalties on violators of the agreement.

They said the government employees avoided travelling in their official vehicles because of increasing cases of kidnapping.