QUETTA: Leaders of political parties and trade organisations have accused police and intelligence agencies of collaborating with criminals in acts of kidnapping for ransom in Balochistan.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Awami National Party (ANP) in connection with the kidnapping of its leader Arbab Zahir Kasi and the deteriorating security situation in the province on Wednesday, they said that cases of kidnapping and lawlessness were portraying a bad image of the country abroad.

Those who spoke included Abdul Jabbar Kakar of ANP, Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldani of BNP-M, Abdul Wasay of JUI-Fazl, Qadir Agha of PkMAP, Jaffar Khan Mandokhel of PML-Q, Nasibullah Bazai of PML-N, Maulana Qadir Luni of JUI-Ideological, Abdul Matin Akhunzada of Jamaat-i-Islami, Mehrab Baloch of National Party, Khaliq Hazara of Hazara Democratic Party, Rahim Kakar of a trade organisation and Arbab Khalid Kasi, the brother of Zahir Kasi.

They said kidnapping for ransom, targeted killings, dumping of mutilated bodies and robberies at national highways were serious problems for people. They criticised the performance of law-enforcement agencies in curbing lawlessness.

One of the speakers alleged that kidnappers of three doctors in Loralai were arrested, but they were later released at the behest of some senior officials.