Maulana Abu Turab, the Balochistan ameer of Markazi Jamat Ahle Hadees, his son and his guard were kidnapped by unidentified assailants from Quetta's airport road on Friday.

According to the police, armed men intercepted Maulana Abu Turab's car on airport road and kidnapped him and the other two men on gunpoint.

Leaving Turab's car behind, the kidnappers took the men to an unknown location.

"We have tightened security to ensure the safe recovery of Maulana Sab," Deputy Inspector General Police Abdul Razzaq Cheema said.

A search operation was launched in and around Quetta to rescue the religious leader, police sources confirmed.

In a public statement issued by Jamiat Ahle Hadis after the incident, the religious association strongly condemned the kidnapping and demanded the immediate recovery of its leader.

Maulana Abu Turab leads the Markazi Jamat Ahle Hadees in Balochistan and is considered to be one of the most influential religious figures in the province.