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Gunmen kidnap son of slain governor in Pakistan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Aug. 26 ,IRNA -- Unidentified gunmen in Pakistan’s eastern Lahore city on Friday kidnapped a son of the slain governor of Punjab province, who was shot dead by his guard in January, police said.

Shahbaz Taseer, son of former governor Punjab Salman Taseer, was abducted from Lahore's Gulburg area at gunmen point, witnesses and police officer Abdul Razaq Cheema said.

According to witnesses, Shahbaz Taseer, was traveling with his driver when four armed gunmen intercepted his car.

Witnesses said that four to five gunmen arrived in a white colour land cruiser car and one on motorbike and pulled him out of his car.

He was heading to his office from house as per routine, police said.

Police office Abdul Razaq Cheema said the kidnappers powered off his mobile phone shortly after he was taken away.

Police said the kidnapers had information about the movement of Shehbaz.

A police officer said that security on all exit points was put on high alert to foil attempt of taking him out of the city.

The driver later informed the police about the incident.

Police said that police had provided security to Shehbaz Taseer but it is not clear if the police guard was with him at the time of kidnapping.

TV also reported that Shehbaz was accompanied by a friend but the kidnappers later released his friend but took him to undisclosed location.

No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, the second high-profile abduction in Lahore this month.

Gunmen abducted an American aid expert from his house in Lahore earlier this month, who is still untraceable.

Intelligence officials denied media reports that the US national has been rescued.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani phoned sister of Shahbaz Taseer and assured her that the government will take all steps to rescue Taseer.

Chief Minister Punjab province Shehbaz Sharif also took serious notice of the kidnapping and asked the police to recover.

Police said that motives behind the kidnapping are not clear and a police officer said they are also looking into family litigation cases after the death of Governor Taseer.

**1420
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30536389