QUETTA: The son of Balochistan’s local government minister, Sardar Mustafa Khan Tareen, was kidnapped by armed men from Pishin on Saturday.

“Unknown armed men kidnapped the son of Balochistan’s local government minister from the Cadet College area of Pishin,” said District Police Officer (DPO) Pishin Hayee Baloch.

The DPO added that the kidnappers abandoned his vehicle close to the college, soon after kidnapping him.

A search operation was launched soon after by security forces in the area, with several suspects detained in connection with the kidnapping.

DPO Pishin did not share details of the arrested suspects.

Chief Minister Balochistan Nawaz Sanaullah Zehri has taken notice of the incident and has ordered the provincial police to increase their efforts for the recovery of the minister’s son.

A tribal jirga in Pishin announced a shutter-down strike in protest against the kidnapping. The jirga was attended by political, tribal and religious leaders.

Home minister Sarfaraz Bugti also reached Pishin to review the progress related to recovery efforts ongoing for the minister’s son.

Tareen was elected as an MPA from Pishin district in 2013, and is affilitated with Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP).

Militants have conducted attacks against security forces and national installations in Balochistan, which has been plagued by an insurgency and growing sectarian killings for more than a decade.