A Canadian journalist abducted this week in Pakistan`s northern tribal region was working on a documentary film for the Al-Jazeera network, media reported Friday.

Beverly Giesbrecht, 52, also known as Khadija Abdul Qahaar, was seized at gunpoint on Tuesday while traveling in the Bannu district of Pakistan`s Northwest Frontier Province, which borders Afghanistan.

The daily Globe and Mail, citing Pakistan`s high commission in Ottawa, said the former magazine publisher who runs a website offering Islamic news was on a freelance assignment for the Arab language network when she was taken.

Her visa application was supported by two letters from Al Jazeera, verifying she would be doing freelance work, said the newspaper.

`The letters say ... she will be reporting on the new government and the wider political situation, including the war on terrorism` for a documentary, high commission spokesman Mammona Malik told the newspaper.