Pakistan said on Sunday in Islamabad that a Pakistani staff member working in its embassy to Iraq has been kidnapped in Baghdad.

Malik Muhammad Javed, a staff member of Pakistan embassy has gone missing in Baghdad since Saturday night. He had reportedly left his house to offer night prayers in a nearby mosque.

"Persons claiming to be members of the Omar bin Khattab group have apparently kidnapped the official," a Foreign Office spokesman said in a statement issued here on Sunday.

"However, Malik Mohammad Javed has contacted our Charge D Affairs in Baghdad informing that he is safe," the spokesman said.

"All possible efforts are being made to ensure the safe release of our official," he said.

The Iraqi ambassador in Islamabad was called to the foreign office and he assured that Iraqi authorities will make all possible efforts to secure the release of Javed, the spokesman said.

Pakistan's Charge D Affairs in Baghdad is also in constant touch with Iraqi authorities and local notables, he said.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad Sunday told local media that Pakistani government was making utmost efforts to ensure the safe return of Javed.

"We are trying our best and are in constant contact with the Iraqi government for tracing his whereabouts," the minister said.

Earlier, the Foreign Office spokesman Jalail Abbas Jilani said the embassy official went to offer prayers in such area where curfew was imposed and he might have not returned due to curfew.

He said the Javed's family informed the Charge D Affairs that he did not return from the mosque.

In July last year, insurgents kidnapped two other Pakistanis, Raja Azad an engineer, and Sajad Naeem, a driver in Iraq. Both were killed July 28. They were working for a Kuwait company in Iraq.

The kidnappers asked Pakistan to promise not to send troops to Iraq.

Despite requests by the United States Pakistan has refused to send troops to Iraq.

In June of last year, Iraqi gunmen kidnapped and threatened to behead another Pakistani, Amjad Hafeez, but he was later freed.

Pakistan has asked its citizens not to travel to Iraq after the murder of its nationals in Iraq.

Source: Xinhua