QUETTA, Oct 27: Mir Shafiqur Rehman Mengal, leader of the ruling PML and son of federal state minister Mir Naseer Mengal, has denied that his brother was behind the abduction of a journalist in Khuzdar.

Speaking at a press conference here on Saturday, he said his brother Mir Ataur Rehman Mengal had been named in the FIR at the behest of a political party. Without mentioning the name of the party, he accused it of trying to defame his family.

He said that his tribe would fully cooperate with police and the journalist community to trace missing journalist Raiz Mengal.

Mr Rehman said that Raiz belonged to his tribe and his family had no dispute with him.

He said his family had authorised a committee comprising Sardar Aslam Bizenjo, leader of National Party, Mir Israr Zehri, chief of BNP (Awami), former minister and JUI (F) leader Maulvi Faiz Mohammad, Mir Qadir Qalandrani of the JWP, Mir Habib Qadir of the PPP, Mir Abdur Rehman Zehri and representatives of the Khuzdar Press Club to investigate the matter freely and bring the culprits to justice.