U.N. urges Pakistan to thoroughly examine killing of man who helped obtain American's release

(CNN) - The U.N. refugee agency urged Pakistan Friday to probe the killing of a man who helped secure the release of one its officials - John Solecki, an American kidnapped for two months in the volatile country.

Abducted near the Afghan border on February 2, Solecki headed the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees office in Quetta, the southwestern Pakistan city and provincial capital of Balochistan. He was freed earlier this month.

"As we said throughout John Solecki's two-month hostage ordeal, we were very grateful for the support provided by the Baloch community and its leaders in securing John's safe release," Ron Redmond, UNHCR spokesman, said at a Friday briefing.

"One of the leaders who took an active role in supporting John's release was Mr. Ghulam Mohammed Baloch, who was found murdered along with two other men last week. As you can imagine, we are extremely distressed by these killings."

Redmond said Ghulam Mohammed Baloch was a member of the Balochistan Quam Dost Committee - a group Pakistan formed to investigate the case of missing persons in Balochistan.

"As several Pakistani officials, including the president and the prime minister, have recognized, it is imperative that a thorough inquiry into the murders be conducted and that those responsible be brought to justice so that efforts toward reconciliation can progress."

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad also issued a similar statement recently, deploring the killings and urging a thorough investigation.

Solecki was found in a cottage in the village of Khad Koucha in the Mastung District of Balochistan province, a Balochi official said.