26-03-2025
Journalist kidnapped in Pakistan capital, says family
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.
