A Shocking Incident in Islamabad
A well-known journalist Waheed Murad was taken from his home in Islamabad’s G-8 sector late at night. His family claims that masked men dressed in black forcibly entered their house and dragged him away. His wife Shanza Nawaz who is currently in Canada has raised serious concerns about his safety.
Masked Men Break into Home at Midnight
According to Shanza Nawaz multiple masked men knocked on the door around 2:00 AM. They accused Waheed of being an Afghan national and demanded he open the door. When he asked if they had female police officers with them since his mother-in-law was present they ignored the question. His mother-in-law who was in Pakistan for medical treatment was terrified. The men broke down the door and forcefully took Waheed outside. They also seized their mobile phones preventing them from calling for help.
Vehicles Without Identification Raise Questions
The abductors arrived in a police vehicle along with two Vigo pickup trucks. However there were no official identification marks on these vehicles. The attackers wore black uniforms but had their faces covered making it impossible to recognize them.The whole incident happened within minutes and Waheed was taken without any legal warrant or explanation.
Police Response Sparks Controversy
Shanza Nawaz said that her family immediately contacted the police but they did not respond. Even after multiple calls no police officer arrived at their home to investigate the situation. Waheed’s colleagues rushed to the police station where only a rough record of the incident was written down after two hours. Despite their repeated requests no formal case was registered.
Journalist’s Colleague Attacked for Seeking Answers
Waheed Murad’s colleague Sobaan Raja witnessed the abduction and tried to follow the vehicles. He recorded videos and attempted to identify the kidnappers. However when the abductors realized he was following them they rammed his motorcycle and assaulted him. They snatched his mobile phone and severely beat him before fleeing.
Unanswered Questions and Growing Fear
Waheed Murad was not only a journalist with Urdu News but also ran his own news website Pakistan 24. He had been vocal about several social and political issues. His sudden abduction has left his family friends and fellow journalists in shock. His wife is demanding answers from the authorities but so far no one has provided any information. If it was a legal arrest why were there no official procedures followed? If it was an illegal abduction then who is behind it?
Press Freedom Under Threat in Pakistan
This incident has once again raised concerns about press freedom in Pakistan. Many journalists have faced threats harassment and abductions for speaking out on sensitive matters. The silence from law enforcement and government officials has fueled fears that journalists are being deliberately targeted.
The Urgent Need for Justice
The disappearance of a journalist without any explanation is alarming. Waheed’s family deserves to know where he is and why he was taken.
