On Friday, the Lahore High Court (LHC) directed the Lahore police to locate and recover YouTuber Aun Ali Khosa, who was reportedly “taken into custody by unknown armed men,” by August 20.
The order follows a petition filed by Aun’s wife, Binish Iqbal, who claimed her husband was in “unlawful and illegal custody” of law enforcement authorities. Iqbal expressed concerns for her husband’s safety, fearing he may be a victim of enforced disappearance.
Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, who heard the petition, instructed the Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) to present the “abducted” YouTuber in court by August 20.
Lahore Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Faisal Kamran stated that the police had not received any formal complaint regarding Aun’s alleged abduction and would investigate once a complaint is filed.
According to the petition, Aun, a digital content creator, writer, and comedian with 137,000 YouTube subscribers, was taken from his apartment at 2 a.m. on August 15 by a group of masked, armed individuals. The petition alleges that these men forcibly entered his apartment, confiscated his electronic devices, and left with him in a Fortuner and a Black Revo double cabin vehicle, after manhandling him.
Aun’s brother, Ali Sher Khosa, appealed for public support and prayers on platform X, stating that Aun had been taken by “unknown armed men” from his Lahore residence. He also refuted claims that his family was receiving threats, calling such reports false.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed alarm over the alleged abduction, linking it potentially to Aun’s work as a satirist, and called for his immediate recovery. Rights activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir criticized the incident as evidence that satire and public dissent could lead to severe repercussions, highlighting concerns over freedom of expression and state control.
