KOHAT, Aug 18: Unidentified armed men kidnapped a doctor along with his driver at gunpoint in Lachi town of the district on Thursday.

The driver was, however, recovered and a kidnapper was injured in encounter with police during search operation in the area. The car of the doctor was also found abandoned near a dam.

According to a statement issued by the district police officer, Dr Javed Ali Shah was still missing and efforts were underway  for his safe recovery.

Officials said that exchange of fire took place in Ghurzandi area and one of the kidnappers identified as Ahmed Niaz, a resident of North Waziristan, was arrested by police in injured condition.

The operation, launched for recovery of kidnapped doctor, was suspended due to darkness and would be resumed in the morning.

Police said that Dr Javed was going to regional health centre for duty with his driver Gul Sahib in his car bearing registration number ID-780 when unidentified persons stopped them and took them away at gunpoint.

Later, District Police Officer Mubarek Zeb Khan arrived at the scene along with police force and launched a search operation in the mountainous region for recovery of kidnapped persons.

They found the car abandoned near Darmalak Dam which was taken into custody and all possible routes of the kidnappers were sealed.

Officials said that it was not possible to trace the kidnapped persons in Lachi town because it was surrounded by mountains.

A health technician was also kidnapped from his quarter near a basic health centre in Dodi Banda in the limits of Lachi police few days ago. He had not been recovered.

Police said that Ghurzandi area of Lachi was infested with criminals and militants and their main source of earning was robberies and kidnappings for ransom.

In the past several operations had been conducted by army and police to flush out criminals from the area but they came back after some time because it was considered a safe route to tribal areas of North and South Waziristan agencies.

Meanwhile, three persons were injured when their rivals opened fire at their car near Rawalpindi Interchange on Thursday.

A car bearing registration number MNP-6521 was coming from Peshawar when four armed men opened fire at it near the interchange on Indus Highway. Bakhtiar, Roman and Zawar Khan sustained bullet injuries in the incidents. They were shifted to KDA hospital for treatment.