Exiled Pakistani journalist Syed Fawad Ali Shah, who was deported from Malaysia last year at the request of Pakistani authorities, was allegedly kept in a number of dark cells and subjected to torture before being transported to a jail in Peshawar, where he is currently held.
Malaysian authorities deported the journalist at the request of the Pakistan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur in August last year. The Pakistani authorities initially denied that he was in the country. However, his whereabouts became known in February this year when he was moved to Adiala Jail after being subjected to enforced disappearance for over five months. He was shifted to a jail in Peshawar 10 days later.
Rights activists and journalists have termed his arrest “illegal”.
In a report by Voice of America, Syed Fawad’s wife claimed that her husband was kept in various dark cells and was subjected to torture. She also alleged that her husband was transported to Pakistan on a stretcher after being drugged.
Earlier, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urged Pakistani authorities to release the investigative journalist, as they believe the journalist is being held “illegally”.
The RSF had also stated that Shah is being held on the charges of posting “false, frivolous, and fake information” online in violation of sections 20 and 24 of the 2016 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The charges of defaming state officials were also allegedly brought against him. The RSF said there was no evidence to support the charges and urged the authorities to release the journalist immediately.
The journalist left the country after he was allegedly abducted by unidentified men in 2011.
