Home Latest News Leftist Activists ‘Disappeared’ in Pakistan

Leftist Activists ‘Disappeared’ in Pakistan

by AFP

File Photo. Jack Guez—AFP

Family members, analysts claim intelligence agencies involved in abductions.

At least four Pakistani activists known on social media for their secular leftist views have gone missing this week, relatives and NGO workers told AFP on Sunday, as analysts voiced rights concerns.

Two of the men—Waqas Goraya and Asim Saeed—disappeared on Jan. 4, according to a cyber-security NGO, while Salman Haider vanished on Friday and Ahmed Raza Naseer on Saturday, relatives said.

The interior ministry has said it will investigate the disappearance of Haider, a Dawn newspaper blogger known for his outspoken views on enforced disappearances in Balochistan, but made no reference to the others.

All four were active on social media groups promoting leftist, secular views, often against the military or conservative state.

Pakistan is routinely ranked among the world’s most dangerous for journalists, and reporting critical of the military is considered a major red flag, with journalists at times detained, beaten and even killed. However, despite claims from some that the military establishment perpetrated the disappearances, a security source denied intelligence services were involved.

Naseer, who suffers from polio, was taken from his family’s shop in central Punjab province, his brother Tahir told AFP on Sunday.

Hours after Haider was due home on Friday evening, his wife received a text message from his phone saying he was leaving his car on the Islamabad expressway, his brother Faizan told AFP. Police later found the car and registered a missing persons report. Faizan said his brother had not received any specific threats.

Waqas Goraya, who is usually a resident of the Netherlands, was picked up on Jan. 4, as was Asim Saeed, said Shahzad Ahmed, head of cyber-security NGO Bytes for All. “None of these activists have been brought to any court of law or leveled with any charges. Their status disappearance is very worrying not only for the families, but also for netizens and larger social media users in the country,” Ahmed said.

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