GWADAR: Six local leaders and workers of the ruling National Party and Balochistan National Party-Awami have been kidnapped from Turbat area of Kech district during the last 24 hours.

A younger brother of Akram Dashti, the provincial president of National Party, was among the kidnap victims. Mr Dashti is contesting by-election from the Balochistan Assembly constituency of PB-50 Turbat, while Muhammad Ali Rind is in the race for the same seat from the platform of BNP-Awami.

Police sources said that four leaders of the National Party were campaigning for Mr Dashti on Thursday night in Karkak Dasht area when armed men whisked them away.

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They were Muhammad Akbar, brother of Mr Dashti, Barkat Ali, Sher Jan and Nadeem.

Earlier, two local leaders of the BNP-Awami were kidnapped from Mazan Band Dasht area of Turbat.

They were identified as Muhammad Imam and Mehmood. They were also engaged in election campaign for the BNP-Awami candidate.

Official sources said that security forces had launched a search operation in the area to trace out the kidnapped political leaders and workers. However, they failed to find any clue.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2015