Senior journalist Absar Alam has shared the ordeal he and his family went through when his 20-year-old son was “beaten up and locked up by the officials of law enforcement agencies for ‘breaching’ then chief of army staff Qamar Javed Bajwa’s security measures”.
While referring to a viral picture wherein General (r) Bajwa and his son could be seen waiting for the signal to cross a road in Dubai, the journalist said he “broke down” seeing them wait without any security protocol, considering in Pakistan even hours before his departure for a place, the highways and roads would be closed off to the general public.
He recounted that one such incident involved his son, Muhammad Umar Absar.
He shared that in March 2020, his son, who was supposed to watch a Pakistan Super League match with his cousins and was waiting for them to arrive outside the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, called them, and “that phone call became his crime”, he added.
He said that the former chief of staff was also supposed to watch the same match with his family amid heavy security protocol.
The veteran journalist narrated the stringent security measures that were taken for General (r) Bajwa and his family, which included a heavy contingent of Pakistan armed forces, as well as snipers and rangers.
He said that however, at the time his son made the phone call to his cousins, General (r) Bajwa was still in Washington and there were two hours left before his departure to Pakistan.
Upon seeing his son making the call, “all hell broke loose” as he was detained by the officers of the Pakistan Army and police for ‘breaching’ the security, he claimed.
Absar Alam further claimed that upon knowing that the 20-year-old was his son, he was beaten up and detained. He alleged that the torture continued even after his son was taken to a police station and locked up with criminals.
The journalist added that his son was accused of breaching the security of General (r) Bajwa and beating a government official.
He lamented that to this day his son is seeking therapy while adding that this is not just a story of his son but of “thousands of sons of this country” who laid their lives for the country on “internal or external adventures like Kargil”.
Absar Alam further said that sons of thousands of families belonging to various ethnicities, including Baloch, Pashtun, Sindhi, Muhajir, Kashmiri, and Punjabi, are missing but they still choose to stay in Pakistan. However, people like General (r) Bajwa decide to settle their families abroad.
JOURNALISTS CONDEMN THE INCIDENT:
Fellow journalists and politicians have condemned the incident and expressed support for the journalist and his family.
Journalist Haroon Rashid said: “Sorry to hear about your and your family’s ordeal. Every day we hear new sad tale, yet we don’t see any change for better only more mess”
Sorry to hear about your and your family’s ordeal. Every day we hear 🆕 sad tale, yet we don’t see any change for better only more mess
— Haroon Rashid (@TheHaroonRashid) February 13, 2023
Mushtaq Yusufzai said: “Very painful, reminded me my ordeals. Though we are used to such things, I couldn’t sleep for days when I was picked up first time, without any reason. The only question that I would ask myself “why”.”
Very painful, reminded me my ordeals. Though we are used to such things, I couldn’t sleep for days when I was picked up first time, without any reason. The only question that I would ask myself “why”.
— Mushtaq Yusufzai (@MYusufzai) February 13, 2023
Columnist and anchorperson Moeed Pirzada said: “We should all be thankful to Absar Alam for being brave to tell us the reality of this country & its real corrupt elite! Most of us, including myself, have failed to even understand the real problem! Absar has explained it well! Must Read, every line till end!”
We should all be thankful to Absar Alam for being brave to tell us the reality of this country & its real corrupt elite! Most of us, including myself, have failed to even understand the real problem! Absar has explained it well! Must Read, every line till end! https://t.co/iOrPt8I0qE
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) February 12, 2023
Politician Bushra Gohar also expressed her support.
Stay strong, BG
— Bushra Gohar (@BushraGohar) February 12, 2023
