MULTAN: An official of an intelligence agency was kidnapped here on Monday morning.

District Coordination Officer Zahid Saleem Gondal said Umer Mubeen Jilani, an inspector in ISI’s anti-terrorism wing, was kidnapped when he left his house in Garden Town for his office.

SSP Operations Saifullah Khattak said seven armed men kidnapped Mr Jilani at about 8:30am.

According to him, saying anything about the motive behind the kidnapping would be premature as police and other intelligence agencies had just started the investigation.

Mr Jilani is son of Zahid Husain Jilani who is a retired civil servant and has reportedly served as director general of the Cholistan Development Authority and director of Anti-Corruption.

Mr Jilani is a nephew of Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Husain Jilani.

According to eyewitnesses, two kidnappers were wearing black shirts similar to those worn by police. They said he put up resistance and also clashed with the kidnappers.

Law-enforcement agencies cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

Pickets were established at the city’s exit and entry points.

No FIR of the incident was lodged till late evening.

This is the second reported case of kidnapping of an ISI official in over two weeks. A havaldar of the agency was kidnapped from Defence, Lahore, on May 31.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2014