logo
Journalist kidnapped in Pakistan capital, says family

Journalist kidnapped in Pakistan capital, says family

Khaleej Times26-03-2025

A journalist in Pakistan was kidnapped from his home in Islamabad on Wednesday, his family and lawyer said.
More than a dozen people stormed the house of Muhammad Waheed Murad, a multimedia journalist at Saudi-owned Urdu News, taking him away, his mother-in-law said in a video statement.
"Around 20 unidentified individuals stormed the house around 2.00am (21:00 GMT) and forcibly took him away, without presenting any (arrest) warrant," Abida Nawaz said.
Murad's lawyer filed a petition on Wednesday at Islamabad's high court alleging unidentified officials "presumably from intelligence agencies" arrived in double-cabin trucks that they typically use.
"The pattern of his abduction was the same as in the past," Imaan 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."
The latest kidnapping came after Farhan Mallick — founder of Pakistani internet media channel Raftar — was arrested last week on charges of "anti-state posts and fake news" under toughened legislation.
It came in the same week the brothers of exiled journalist Ahmad Noorani were kidnapped from their family home.
Islamabad has been criticised by watchdogs for restricting Internet access, including temporary bans on YouTube and TikTok, while X remains officially blocked.
The criminalisation of online disinformation has spread fear in Pakistan, with journalists among those worried about the potentially wide reach of the law.
Pakistan is ranked 152 out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders' press freedom index.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

West Bank: Two Palestinians killed and 16 injured after Israeli attack on Nablus
West Bank: Two Palestinians killed and 16 injured after Israeli attack on Nablus

Middle East Eye

time6 hours ago

  • Middle East Eye

West Bank: Two Palestinians killed and 16 injured after Israeli attack on Nablus

At least 16 Palestinians have been injured and two killed after the Israeli military continued a large-scale attack on Nablus in the West Bank, according to AFP on Tuesday. Both Nidal Amira, 40, and Khaled Amira, 35, were reportedly killed in the attacks. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said that at least three people sustained injuries from bullets, four from physical assault, and dozens more from tear gas inhalation. Ambulance crews were prevented from reaching the injured, according to the PRCS. This is the third year in a row that a large-scale operation targeting people in the old city has taken place. Almost 1,000 people have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023.

Four dead as Colombia hit with wave of bombings, gun attacks
Four dead as Colombia hit with wave of bombings, gun attacks

Al Etihad

time8 hours ago

  • Al Etihad

Four dead as Colombia hit with wave of bombings, gun attacks

10 June 2025 21:02 CORINTO, COLOMBIA (AFP)Southwest Colombia was rocked by a string of explosions and gun attacks that left at least four people dead Tuesday, police said, in what appeared to be a coordinated wave of attacks hit Cali -- the country's third largest city -- and several nearby towns, targeting police stations and other municipal National Police chief, Carlos Fernando Triana, told La FM radio that assailants had attacked targets with car bombs, motorcycle bombs, rifle fire and a suspected bombings came days after the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate in Bogota, a brazen attack that already had the country on senator Miguel Uribe, 39, was shot twice in the head at close range by a 15-year-old alleged hitman while campaigning have taken to the streets in major cities to light candles, pray and voice their anger at the assassination attempt. Many Colombians are fearful of a return to the violence of the 1980s and 1990s, when cartel attacks, guerrilla violence and political assassinations were commonplace.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store