Journalist Waheed Murad was “forcibly disappeared by unknown” individuals from his house in the federal capital, his family alleged on Wednesday in a petition filed before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for his recovery.
The petition, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, was filed by Murad’s mother-in-law Abida Nawaz through lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha.
Abida claimed the journalist was “forcibly disappeared from his home in Sector G-8, Islamabad at around 2:05am by unknown officials presumably belonging to intelligence agencies, and accompanied by persons in black uniforms and two police double cabin vehicles”.
She described herself as an “eyewitness to the enforced disappearance [of Murad], and was also herself manhandled by the abductors who also took away her phone”.
The state, the defence ministry, the Islamabad police chief and the Karachi Company police’s station house officer were listed as respondents in the case.
The petition urged the IHC to direct the respondents to “immediately trace and produce” Murad before the court.
It pleaded that the court also order the respondents to “identify and investigate those responsible, directly or indirectly, for abducting and illegally detaining” the journalist, as well as to disclose information on any cases filed against him.
The petition also requested that the authorities provide the counsel and family access to Murad. It further urged the IHC to direct the respondents to disclose any charges against the journalist and where he was being kept.
The petition highlighted that Murad had raised his voice about the recent alleged enforced disappearance of US-based journalist Ahmad Noorani’s two brothers.
“The pattern of his abduction was the same as in the past,” Mazari told AFP. “The abductors, their modus operandi, and the way they stormed the house in the dead of night make it clear who they are.”
Urdu News, the outlet for which Murad works, reported on the incident as well. According to Urdu News, Murad has previously also worked at News One and daily Ausaf, as well as runs a news website Pakistan24.
The incident comes a week after Noorani’s mother, Amina Bashir, filed a plea with the IHC for the recovery of his brothers, saying they were “forcibly disappeared” from their Islamabad home at 1:05am by “unknown officials ostensibly belonging” to the country’s intelligence agencies.
It also follows the arrest of senior journalist Farhan Mallick in two separate cases, one of which includes sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and alleges him of sharing “anti-state” content.
Police, family have ‘no information’
Murad’s wife, Shinza Nawaz, told Dawn.com that the capital police were telling them “nothing about who picked up my husband”. She demanded that they should be told about her husband’s whereabouts and under what laws he was taken away.
On their side, the Islamabad police expressed a lack of knowledge about the incident.
Their spokesperson, Taqi Jawwad, told Dawn.com the police had “no information” about the late-night incident so far and would check for it.
In a post on X, Shinza pointed out that it had been more than 10 hours since her husband’s disappearance but neither was a first information report (FIR) filed yet nor was he presented before any court.
“What his family is currently going through is mental torture,” she lamented.
Abida told Independent Urdu that Murad even slipped his identity card under the door to show that he was not an Afghan national but was taken away by people who came “in a police vehicle and two Vigos”.
In a video statement, seen by Dawn.com, Abida recalled that the individuals identified themselves as policemen when they knocked on the door. She added she asked whether there were female law enforcers accompanying them, to which they replied in the negative.
Abida claimed the individuals threatened to break down the door if she did not open it, following which they barged in and took Murad with them. The woman said she asked for her mobile phone to be returned, highlighting that she had a heart problem.
“There were three vehicles outside and around 15-20 people. They showed no [arrest] warrant,” Abida claimed.
Shinza said she was currently in Canada while her mother was visiting Pakistan for medical treatment.
“The government picks up whoever it wants to. Whoever wishes breaks down someone’s door and takes them away in this country,” Shinza alleged while speaking to Dawn.com.
The journalist’s wife wondered why no arrest warrants were shown if it was a police raid, adding that the individuals had worn masks.
“Several masked men came and knocked the door, and asked my husband to open the door, saying he was an Afghan,” Shinza told Independent Urdu. She added that her mother woke up from her sleep as a result of the commotion.
According to Urdu News, Murad’s colleague Soban Raja witnessed the incident. In a video making rounds on social media, Soban said he received an alert about the episode and reached Murad’s house as he was nearby.
Soban reiterated the same details told by Abida about the three vehicles. He said he saw them taking away Murad, so he tried to record a video and pursue the cars, following which his motorcycle was hit and he was beaten up by the alleged abductors.
“They took away both my mobile phones and my bag, as well as broke down my motorbike, which is not starting now,” he said.
Rights activists, media fraternity ‘alarmed’
As reports of Murad’s disappearance spread on social media, rights activists and the media fraternity expressed their concern over the development.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a post on X it was “alarmed by reports of the abduction” of Murad.
“Murad’s whereabouts remain unknown at present. We demand that he be traced and recovered safely and promptly and his abductors brought to book,” the HRCP stated.
Senior journalist Matiullah Jan, who months ago faced a widely criticised terrorism and narcotics case, said the government “needs to immediately clarify its position about the incident”.
“We strongly condemn his abduction/arrest as a blatant violation of free speech and fundamental rights,” he said on X.
Murad was “tough on those who try to tow an agenda for personal benefits at the cost of public interest”, Jan said in another post on X.
“He believes more in reasoning and logic on different issues than anything else. Over a period of time he has proved his journalistic credentials and integrity beyond doubt,” he added, praying for Murad’s safety.
Mubashir Zaidi, another senior journalist, noted he had known Murad “for many years”.
“He is an upright journalist and a gentleman. His abduction in Islamabad raises a serious concern,” he said on X, using the hashtags “journalism is not a crime” and “release Waheed Murad”.
Renowned lawyer Jibran Nasir, who himself also faced a similar episode in June 2023, alleged on X: “The reason post abduction, citizens remain disappeared is because the cells and centres of [intelligence] agencies are considered beyond the jurisdiction of police and courts.
“Neither the police will ever dare raid these cells/centres to recover an abductee nor does [the] judiciary, despite all authority, possess the unity or courage to direct the police to do so,” he added.
“We are all expected to play a fool and pretend the abductee has gone missing when what’s really missing is rule of law and judicial courage,” the rights activist lamented.
Journalist Azaz Syed also reshared the family’s version, saying he met with Abida, who was “manhandled by people in black uniforms”.
