QUETTA, Feb 14: A shutter-down strike was observed in the Loralai township on Wednesday against the kidnapping of a leading trader’s son for ransom.

Traders of the area responded positively to the strike call given by the JUI-F and traders' organisation. All shopping plazas, markets, shops and bazaars remained closed in the township and its surrounding areas.

Unknown people kidnapped the eleven-year-old son of trader Sardar Khan Nasar at gunpoint from the outside his house last week. Later, the kidnappers contacted Mr Nasar and demanded Rs10 million for his son’s release.

Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference, provincial Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Maulana Faizullah strongly condemned the kidnapping and threatened to observe a complete shutter-down and wheel jam strike in Loralai on February 23.

He urged Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Yousuf and Inspector General of Police Tariq Masood Khosa to take notice of this situation and order immediate recovery of the kidnapped boy.