KARACHI: A television journalist, who was apparently taken by force by plainclothes police in Karachi on Monday, “returned home safely” on Tuesday, his employer said.
In a statement, Aaj News said it received the confirmation of the return of Nafees Naeem, who works for the Aaj News television as an assignment editor, at 5:00 am.
It wasn’t immediately clear who was behind the apprehension of Naeem. But his employer said several men in plainclothes took him into custody at a market near his home, threw him in a police vehicle and sped away.
Naeem’s location after the arrest was unclear.
Earlier, the channel’s news director, Kamal Siddiqi, also confirmed the development on Twitter.
“Aaj senior assignment editor Nafees Naim has safely returned home. Thank you to all colleagues, well-wishers and media organisations who helped make this happen,” he wrote.
#aaj senior assignment editor Nafees Naim has safely returned home. Thank you to all colleagues, well wishers and media organisations who helped make this happen #BringBackNafeesNaeem
— Kamal Siddiqi (@Tribunian) June 13, 2022
Although the government of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) component parties insists it supports freedom of speech, human rights groups often accuse the civil and military-backed security agencies and police of harassing and attacking journalists.
In a statement on Monday, Aaj News said: “If any person has acted against the law, legal action should be taken against them.”
Police said they were investigating.
Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan ordered authorities to trace and recover Naeem, whose apparent arrest drew condemnation from the journalists union. They called on the government to take action against those responsible for the journalist’s disappearance.
— With AP
