Prominent journalist missing amid fears of media repression

A prominent Pakistani journalist known for his criticism of the army went missing on Wednesday, prompting an outcry and suspicions of yet another attack on the freedom of the press.

Waheed Murad, a reporter at a digital media outlet, was abducted by masked men in the early morning from his residence in Islamabad, his wife Nazish Jahangir, who is also a journalist, said.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed concern over Murad’s disappearance and demanded the authorities to find the missing journalist and take action against the kidnappers.

The family said that the police refused to register the case and that they have filed a petition with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking directions for the recovery of the missing journalist.

Murad’s disappearance comes just days after the two brothers of exiled Pakistani journalist Ahmad Noorani were allegedly abducted from their home, after Noorani had published an investigative story on alleged nepotism involving Pakistan’s army chief on his website Fact Focus.

Last week, journalist Farhan Mallick was arrested by the authorities in the port city of Karachi for allegedly airing anti-state content on his YouTube channel.

Complaints of attacks, intimidation and online abuse against journalists critical of the military have become common in Pakistan.

The crackdown against journalist has intensified in recent weeks, targeting those who challenge or criticise the powerful military establishment.

Pakistan ranked 12th on CPJ’s 2024 Global Impunity Index, which ranks countries by how often murders of journalists go unpunished.