Waheed Murad
ISLAMABAD: Senior journalist Waheed Murad was allegedly abducted from his residence in Islamabad in the early hours of Wednesday. According to his wife, a group of masked men dressed in black uniforms forcibly entered their home at around 2:00 AM and took Murad away in a black “dala” (pickup truck).
The incident has sparked concerns among press freedom advocates and Murad’s family, who are now seeking his immediate recovery.
Murad’s wife, who is currently abroad, recounted the harrowing details of the abduction. She stated that the men knocked on the door and accused her husband of being an Afghan national.
When Murad denied the allegation, he attempted to prove his identity by sliding his national identity card under the door. However, instead of backing down, the intruders forcefully broke in and stormed the house.
She further revealed that the armed men seized both Murad’s and her mother’s mobile phones before dragging him outside. Her mother, who was present at the time, pleaded with the intruders to bring female police officers, but her request was ignored. The men then took Murad away in a black vehicle, leaving the family in shock and distress.
The abduction reportedly took place on Chaman Road in Sector G-8, according to family sources. Murad’s mother-in-law promptly filed a petition for his recovery through lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha.
The plea names several high-ranking officials as respondents, including the interior secretary, defence secretary, inspector general of police (IGP) Islamabad, and the station house officer (SHO) of Karachi Company police station.
The petition alleges that individuals dressed in black uniforms arrived at the residence around 2:00 AM, accompanied by two police vehicles.
The men forcibly took Murad away and also mistreated the family members present. Despite lodging a complaint at Karachi Company police station, no formal FIR has been registered so far.
Murad’s family and legal representatives have called for an urgent order to ensure his safe recovery and demanded legal action against those involved in his alleged abduction. The case has drawn widespread attention, with journalists and human rights activists raising concerns over press freedom and the safety of media professionals in the country.
