A prominent lawyer and rights activist is picked up by unidentified men amid the ongoing crackdown on former prime minister Imran Khan’s party.
Islamabad, Pakistan – The wife of a prominent Pakistani rights activist and lawyer says her husband has been “kidnapped” in the southern city of Karachi.
In a video posted on social media late Thursday night, Jibran Nasir’s wife, Mansha Pasha, said the couple was returning home after a dinner when some men took Nasir away by force.
“We returned to our house. A white car from Vigo intercepted our car and drove towards our vehicle. Around 15 men in plainclothes took it away by force,” he said in his video, asking between tears the return of Nasir.
He later filed a police complaint, demanding action against the unidentified people who had taken Nasir away.
Nasir, 36, had previously contested national assembly elections from Karachi and is considered one of the country’s most vocal voices against rights violations.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent rights group, issued a statement late Thursday expressing deep concern over Nasir’s abduction.
“HRCP is deeply concerned by reports that lawyer and activist @MJibranNasir has been abducted by unknown gunmen in Karachi. We demand his immediate safe recovery and that his abductors be held accountable to the full extent of the law,” he said in his tweet.
HRCP is deeply concerned by reports that the lawyer and activist @MJibranNasir has been kidnapped by unknown armed persons in Karachi. We demand that he be immediately and safely recovered and that his abductors be held accountable to the full extent of the law.
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) June 1, 2023
The abduction of the Karachi lawyer came during a relentless crackdown on former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Nationwide protests erupted on May 9 after Khan was dramatically arrested in an Islamabad court on corruption charges, after which his supporters went on a rampage, targeting public facilities and private, including military property.
Thousands of people were arrested over the violence, including top PTI leaders, with the government set to try some of those arrested in military courts.
Nasir had criticized the crackdown on the PTI party and the decision to try civilians under strict army laws.
I am heartbroken by the kidnapping of M. Jibran Nasir, a human rights defender.
@MJibranNasiris the voice of the voiceless.
Let’s join our voices together@manshapashaand unite to advocate for the release of Jibran Nasir.#ReleaseJibranNasir pic.twitter.com/lrXzqUBhkV
— Ziauddin Yousafzai (@ZiauddinY) June 1, 2023
Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the US-based Wilson Center, condemned Nasir’s kidnapping on Twitter.
“Jibran Nasir is a brave soul who speaks truth to power and has for many years. Disturbing news about his apparent kidnapping and I hope he is released soon,” he posted.
Security forces have picked up several people amid the ongoing crackdown on the PTI.
Last week, the head of a news channel Sami Abraham was picked up in Islamabad. He was released earlier this week after six days.
On May 11, another journalist, Imran Riaz Khan, was detained at Sialkot airport in the eastern province of Punjab as he was about to leave the country.
Both journalists had expressed their support for Khan and his PTI party.
