SHEIKHUPURA, July 27: A candidate for the office of union council nazim, his covering candidate and a supporter were kidnapped allegedly by their rival group to force them to withdraw on Wednesday.

Dr Ashraf Ghumman, candidate for UC-68 nazim’s office, his covering candidate advocate Nadeem Khan and a supporter, advocate Nasir Khan, were allegedly kidnapped by Sabir Manj, Mian Zulfiqar, Shafqat Khichi and their armed accomplices.

The city police recovered them in a major operation after 10 hours on Wednesday night.

Ashraf Ghumman’s brother Azam and son Ali Ashraf told journalists that they were returning after a meeting with former Nazim Mian Iftikhar Jalandhri at his dera in old vegetable market when the kidnapping took place.

Meanwhile, District Bar Association president Akbar Virk and general secretary Mian Saghir Ahmad strongly condemned the incident.

Later, a DBA delegation met the district returning officer, Presiding Officer, DCO, SP investigations and brought the matter in to their notice. The DBA also informed the Chief Election Commissioner through fax.

City Jamaat-i-Islami amir Sheikh Muhammad Jamil and other leaders also strongly condemned the kidnapping.

The father of Sabir Manj, Yousaf Manj and uncle Munawar Manj, in the meanwhile, told this correspondent that the allegation levelled against family were baseless and a ploy to defame them by their political rivals.

PML MNA Khurram Munawar Manj also denied the charges. He told the press that his cousin Sabir Manj was contesting election for the post of nazim while his political rivals were aware of the fact that they would lose election. They had fabricated a story to oust them from election.

He claimed that the kidnapped had been seen roaming in Lahore by some people, Mr Khurram said.

Police said the three were tortured by the kidnappers to force them to withdraw from the contest.

City A division police have registered a case against Sabir Manj, his father Yousaf Manj, Mian Zulfiqar Jalandhri, Shafqat Khichi and dozens of unknown armed men on the complaint of victim Nadeem’s brother Hashim Khan.