City
Epaper

Pakistan: Rights groups condemn forced disappearance of Karachi-based social media activist

By ANI | Updated: June 25, 2022 12:15 IST

Human rights groups have condemned the forced disappearance of Karachi-based social media activist, Arsalan Khan, who went missing from the city's Clifton area, the latest in the series of abductions.

Open in App

Human rights groups have condemned the forced disappearance of Karachi-based social media activist, Arsalan Khan, who went missing from the city's Clifton area, the latest in the series of abductions.

The police which denied any connection with the alleged abduction said they had not detained the activist. Arsalan's family said they approached the police to lodge a complaint but officials refused, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Arsalan -- known as AK-47 on Twitter -- has worked for several Pakistani broadcasters and was currently associated with a Karachi civil society organisation.

"HRCP demands the immediate release of activist @AK_Forty7 Arsalan Khan who was allegedly picked up by the Rangers in Karachi. His whereabouts are presently unknown. Such illegal abductions and detentions are condemnable. The state must end the practice of enforced disappearances," the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said in a statement.

"This incident follows upon the activist's support for the families of missing MQM party workers in Karachi who have been demanding the recovery of their loved ones. HRCP demands that the state also release the missing party workers and hold all perpetrators accountable," the group added.

London-based Amnesty International also issued a statement, expressing concern about his alleged disappearance. The group said Pakistan must end this abhorrent practice of punishing dissent by wrenching people away from their loved ones.

"Amnesty International is deeply concerned about the abduction of journalist Arsalan Khan (@AK_Forty7 ) from his home in Karachi today at 4:00 am. Pakistan must end this abhorrent practice of punishing dissent by wrenching people away from their loved ones," the group said.

In the statement, Amnesty stressed that the newly-appointed Inter-Ministerial Committee on Missing Persons must take note of the jarring disconnect between what they are saying and what is actually happening on the ground.

The "arrest" of the social media activist and termed it a serious attack on freedom of expression, said the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ).

It also alleged that Arsalan was "detained" by law enforcement agencies and that Pakistan law enforcers conducted a raid on his residence in Clifton and took him away.

( With inputs from ANI )

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Tags: Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners LLCArsalan khanKarachiTwitterCliftonTwitter twitterTwitter sevaTwitter cmoTwitter inc.Twitter inc
Open in App

Related Stories

Social Viral'Indians Take Dolo 650 Like It’s Cadbury Gems': US-Based Doctor’s Tweet Sparks Funny Memes and Jokes Online

MumbaiEid al-Fitr 2025: Mumbai Police on High Alert After Social Media Post Warns of Riots and Bomb Blasts in Dongri on Ramadan Eid

MumbaiMumbai: Sameer Wankhede Files Defamation Case Against Woman Over Social Media Allegations

TechnologyX Down: Elon Musk-Owned Social Media Platform Faces Global Outage, Users Unable to Load Pages

NationalRailway Ministry Orders X to Remove Videos of New Delhi Railway Station Stampede

International Realted Stories

InternationalPakistan: Court sentences main accused in Imran Khan attack case to life in prison

InternationalSenior Hamas delegation arrives in Cairo to hold talks with Egyptian officials for ceasefire agreement

InternationalEgypt FM expresses solidarity with J-K attack victims

InternationalIran President condemns Pahalgam terror attack, conveys condolences to victims

InternationalUAE President conveys condolences to PM Modi over Pahalgam terror attack