A group of armed men abducted a passenger van along with all its occupants near the Wadh area of Balochistan on Thursday, officials said.
According to initial reports, the unidentified assailants intercepted the vehicle and took it towards an undisclosed location. Authorities suspect the involvement of militants associated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Local administration has launched a search operation in the area, though no arrests had been made till the filing of this report.
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In reaction to the abduction, transporters staged a protest by blocking the Quetta-Karachi National Highway, bringing traffic to a standstill. Long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of the road as the protest continued into the evening.
Officials said efforts were underway to negotiate with the protestors and restore traffic flow, while search operations continued in the surrounding areas.
