GUNMEN KIDNAP TWO CHINESE NATIONALS IN BALOCHISTAN

ISLAMABAD: Two Chinese nationals were kidnapped at gun point from Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, on Wednesday, prompting authorities to launch a search operation for their recovery.

A third Chinese national managed to evade the kidnappers while a passerby was shot in the foot when he tried to intervene. The Chinese embassy in Islamabad confirmed the incident.

No one claimed responsibility for the abduction though reports suggested the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group, might be involved.

Eyewitness Muhammad Zahir told the media the incident occurred in Jinnah Town, an upmarket residential area of Quetta. He said he tried to stop two men who were forcing a Chinese woman into a white car. When he challenged them, a third man emerged from the car and shot him.

Initially, the kidnappers told Zahir they were from the special branch of police and were taking in the Chinese woman for questioning. It is believed the Chinese man was already in the car.

Balochistan chief minister Sanaullah Zehri ordered a manhunt for the kidnapped Chinese nationals. Police and Frontier Corps personnel began a search operation while the deputy chief of the Chinese mission in Islamabad, Lijian Zhao, said the embassy too was working for their release.

The BLA is protesting against CPEC in Balochistan on the ground that the province’s resources are being taken away.