QUETTA, Feb 13: The Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF), which has claimed the kidnapping on Feb 2 of a top UN official in Quetta, released his videotape on Friday.

A man calling from an unknown location told the reporter of a news agency late on Friday to collect from the City Post Office the videotape of John Solecki, chief of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Quetta.

The video shows a blindfolded person — who is Mr Solecki, apparently — seeking UN help for his early release. “My message to the United Nations. I am not feeling well. I am sick. I am in trouble. Please help to resolve the problem soon, so I can gain my release,” Mr Solecki said.

A spokesman for the Baloch Liberation United Front had called upon the United Nations on Sunday to get 141 women released from the custody of security agencies, try to trace whereabouts of over 6,000 missing political workers and address the grievances of the Baloch in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

AP adds: The kidnappers have threatened to kill Mr Solecki within 72 hours unless more than 100 prisoners are released.

The threat was contained in a letter delivered along with the videotape of the hostage.

Mr Solecki, an American national, was going to office from his residence in the Chaman Housing Society when the gunmen in a white car opened fire on his vehicle. The driver was injured and later died in Combined Military Hospital.

The gunmen took away Mr Solecki.