ISLAMABAD: News reporter for a private media house Ali Imran Syed returned to his home on Saturday after almost a day-long disappearance since Friday.
A few hours earlier, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan had directed the Interior Ministry to stay in touch with the Sindh government over the disappearance of the journalist.
He had issued the directives during his conversation with his adviser on accountability and interior Shahzad Akbar. The adviser had called PM Imran to brief him on the disappearance of the journalist.
“Provide assistance in the missing journalist’s recovery,” said PM Imran Khan. He also directed that the safety of all journalists should be ensured “at all costs”.
Soon after the matter came to public attention, acting Additional Inspector General (AIG) Karachi Arif Hanif had visited the journalist’s residence along with Senior Superintendent Police Anti-Violent Crime Cell to assure his family members of his early recovery.
The police officers had also visited the crime scene.
Separately, in a tweet, Shahzad Akbar had said that the interior secretary has spoken to the Sindh police chief and directed him to ensure the early recovery of the journalist.
He also offered “support and assistance of all federal agencies in the case and general safety of journalists in Sindh”.
The reporter associated with the media house had gone missing in Karachi, his employer said on Saturday.
According to Geo television, Ali Imran Syed was missing since Friday evening.
A report published on the channel’s website said the Syed left his home between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm after telling his family he would be back home in half an hour. However, he has not returned home since.
His car was parked outside the house and he had left his mobile phone at home, the report quoted his wife as saying.
The channel’s administration stated that the Karachi police chief and deputy inspector general (DIG) East have been informed about Syed’s disappearance, according to the publication, which added the family had also submitted a report to Sachal police station in the Gulzar-e-Hijri neighbourhood.
Meanwhile, Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab said Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the incident and spoken to the provincial police chief Mushtaq Mahar.
CM Sindh has taken notice & spoken to IG Sindh. The matter is being investigated. Will keep u informed about the progress. Insha’Allah all efforts will be made for his recovery https://t.co/b6egpNuiRj
— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) October 24, 2020
“The matter is being investigated,” he said.
Tweeting about the development Amnesty International said, Syed was “feared to have been subjected to an enforced disappearance for his reporting”.
Pakistan: Ali Imran Syed, a reporter for Geo News, has been missing from Karachi since yesterday and feared to have been subject to an enforced disappearance for his reporting. The authorities must establish his whereabouts immediately. #JournalismIsNotACrime #EndDisappearances
— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) October 24, 2020
“The authorities must establish his whereabouts immediately,” the rights group said.
