Amnesty International South Asia has raised alarm over the disappearance of PTI social media activist Azhar Mashwani who has been missing for six days now.
Taking to Twitter, Amnesty International South Asia highlighted how enforced disappearances continue to tarnish Pakistan’s human rights record. The organization urged the government of Pakistan to immediately release all disappeared persons.
“We are alarmed by reports of the enforced disappearance of Azhar Mashwani, whose whereabouts remain unknown,” Amnesty International South Asia said in a statement on Twitter.
Read more: The culture of forced disappearances in Pakistan
“Enforced disappearances have stained Pakistan’s human rights record for decades and continue with impunity. We call on the government of Pakistan to immediately release all disappeared people or promptly bring them before a judge in a civilian court of law to rule on the awfulness of their arrest or detention and whether they should be released,” the organization further added.
immediately release all disappeared people or promptly bring them before a judge in a civilian court of law to rule on the awfulness of their arrest or detention and whether they should be released. (2/2)
— Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office (@amnestysasia) March 29, 2023
According to Azhar Mashwani’s family, he was traveling to Zaman Park in a cab from his home on March 23 when he went missing. PTI chief and former premier Imran Khan claimed that Azhar Mashwani was “abducted” from Lahore and his whereabouts were still unknown”. He demanded the immediate release of Azhar Mashwani.
The Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench even served notices to D.G. FIA and Director Cyber Wing in PTI activist Azhar Mashwani’s missing case.
After the sessions court issued notices to the Lahore police chief on a petition seeking the registration of a case over the alleged abduction of Azhar Mashwani, city police on Saturday registered a case against unidentified persons for kidnapping the PTI activist.
Read more: PTI demands release of Azhar Mashwani
On the other hand, the Federal Investigation Agency has denied having PTI activist Azhar Mashwani in custody in a report submitted to the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC).