Islamabad: Islamabad High Court has received a petition for the immediate recovery of missing journalist Waheed Murad. The petition, filed by his mother-in-law, Abida Nawaz, also demands legal action against those responsible for his alleged abduction.
The petition names the Secretary of Interior, Secretary of Defense, Inspector General (IG) of Police, and the Station House Officer (SHO) of Karachi Company police station as respondents.
According to the petition, "At around 2 AM, individuals dressed in black uniforms entered our home in G-8. There were also two police vehicles accompanying them. These men forcibly took Waheed Murad away and misbehaved with me as well."
Murad was allegedly abducted by unidentified individuals late Wednesday night from his residence in Islamabad. His family filed a complaint at Karachi Company police station, stating that armed, masked men in three vehicles forcibly took him away. His mother-in-law, who was present at the time, claimed that the intruders also took her phone before leaving.
Despite filing a formal complaint, Murad’s family claims that no FIR (First Information Report) has been registered by the police.
Prominent journalist Aizaz Syed shared on social media platform X that Murad’s wife recounted the incident, stating that the intruders accused her husband of being an Afghan citizen. When Murad attempted to prove his Pakistani identity by showing his ID card under the door, the armed men broke in and took him away.
Murad's wife also informed Syed that the men in black uniforms searched their home and took his phone as well.
Waheed Murad is affiliated with Urdu News and also runs an independent news portal called Pakistan 24.
The incident has sparked concern among press freedom advocates and journalists, who are demanding his immediate release.
