Amid the crackdown on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and supporters in the wake of the May 9 attack on military installations by the party workers protesting the arrest of their leader Imran Khan, another pro-PTI anchorperson Sami Abraham has allegedly been abducted by unidentified men in Islamabad.
The anchorperson was abducted by “eight to ten unidentified men” who intercepted Abraham’s vehicle on the service road of Sixth Avenue at Sector G-6 in Islamabad at 9pm while he was heading home from the BOL TV office.
Abraham’s brother, Ali Raza, has filed a complaint in this regard with the Aabpara Police, saying that Abraham was picked up by unidentified men and the family was unaware of his whereabouts.
According to Dawn, the journalist has been arrested by police. However, Islamabad police have issued a statement saying they would cooperate with the journalist’s family in tracking him down.
Another pro-PTI anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan’s whereabouts also remains unknown after he was arrested by police at Sialkot airport on May 11.
On May 22, Punjab police told the Lahore High Court (LHC) that anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan was not present at any police station across Pakistan.
Human rights defenders have strongly condemned the crackdown against PTI leaders and supporters.
Following former prime minister Imran Khan’s arrest by Rangers on May 9, violent protests erupted across the country. The PTI supporters stormed the Corps Commander’s house in Lahore and the army headquarters in Rawalpindi. Military and civil leaders have vowed strict action against the PTI workers and since then a number of workers have been arrested in a crackdown against the party. Top military brass has decided to try the PTI protesters who attacked military installations under the Army Act.