MULTAN: Ali Haider Gilani, a son of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who was kidnapped from Multan on Thursday, remained untraced despite efforts and frantic searches conducted by law enforcement agencies in Multan.

The kidnapping occurred, when a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) corner meeting ongoing on Multan's Matti-Tal road, was attacked by gunmen.

Police said Ali Haider Gilani's personal secretary, Mohiuddin, was killed in the attack and one of his guards wounded, along with four other people, in the abduction.

“People came on a motorbike. They also had a car with them and they opened fire and abducted Yousuf Raza Gilani's son Ali Haider in a black Honda,” police officer Khurram Shakur told reporters.

Haider was a provincial assembly candidate for the secular PPP and his two brothers Ali Musa Gilani and Abdul Qadir Gilani are standing for the national assembly.

After the kidnapping, Gilani's sons, Ali Musa and Abdul Qadir were seen to be angry and in tears.

"I will not allow elections to be held in my constituency at any cost. My brother is gone, how can I let polls take place in Multan," an emotional Ali Musa Gilani told television channels.

According to police, all entry and exit points for Multan were sealed and a massive search operation was underway to recover Ali Haider and apprehend those responsible.

Interior Minister Habib Khan also said searches were ongoing and the kidnapping would not impact the coming elections.

Caretaker prime minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso expressed concern over the abduction and called former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani to discuss the incident.

He said all available resources would be used to recover Haider Gilani and assured that the culprits would be brought to justice.

Moreover, chief election commissioner Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim also condemned the kidnapping and called upon the caretaker government to provide full security to election candidates.

Ali Haider Gilani was contesting for the May 11 election from PPP-200 constituency in Multan.

His family is one of the most powerful in the central town of Multan and a key clan in the PPP, whose campaign for re-election has been dramatically curtailed by Tehrik-i-Taliban threats.

Opinion

Four hundred seats?

Four hundred seats?

The mix of divisive cultural politics and grow­th-oriented economics that feeds Hindu middle-class ambition and provides targeted welfare are key ingredients in the BJP’s political trajectory.

Editorial

Weathering the storm
Updated 29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

Let 2024 be the year when we all proactively ensure that our communities are safeguarded and that the future is secure against the inevitable next storm.
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...
Return to the helm
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Return to the helm

With Nawaz Sharif as PML-N president, will we see more grievances being aired?
Unvaxxed & vulnerable
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Unvaxxed & vulnerable

Even deadly mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria have vaccines, but they are virtually unheard of in Pakistan.
Gaza’s hell
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Gaza’s hell

Perhaps Western ‘statesmen’ may moderate their policies if a significant percentage of voters punish them at the ballot box.