Senate asks for Nisar briefing on social activists’ disappearances

PPP also files a notice in NA Secretariat

ISLAMABAD: Expressing shock and concern over the disappearance of Salman Haider and at least three other social media activists, the Senate on Monday invited Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to share whatever he knew about their status in a special briefing to members of the upper house.

Salman Haider went missing after spending a few hours with his friends in Islamabad’s Bani Gala area. According to the First Information Report, Haider had told his wife that he would return by 8:00pm. However, Haider did not return home and his car was later found from Koral Chowk.



Three other social media activists – Ahmad Waqas Goraya, Asim Saeed and Ahmed Raza Naseer – have also gone missing since January 4 and January 7, respectively.

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Monday asked Nisar to appear in the house on Tuesday [today] to brief the lawmakers on the disappearance of the social activists. “In what circumstances these persons have gone missing and what progress has been made by the government and the police into these cases,” asked Rabbani asked.

According to reports, Waqas Goraya and Asim Saeed disappeared on January 4, Salman Haider vanished on January 6 and Ahmed Raza Naseer went missing on Saturday. The whereabouts of all four men are unknown. Separately, the PPP lawmakers – Dr Nafisa Shah, Naveed Qamar, Dr Azra Fazal, Shazia Marri and Shahida Rehmani – have submitted calling attention notice in the National Assembly Secretariat on the issue of Haider’s disappearance.

“We the undersigned would like to invite the attention of Minister for Interior to the disappearance of a poet, social activist, and an academic Salman Haider, causing grave concern among the public,” says the notice submitted under Rule 88 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.



“It is a matter of high concern that activists and intellectuals from other parts of the country have also gone missing in the last one week. This is a serious matter and needs an immediate response from the government,” says the notice.



It says the pattern of these disappearances suggests that it is a planned and coordinated action, undertaken to silence voices which are critical of prevalent socio-political issues in Pakistan.”

Police official promises action

On the directives of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, a senior police officer visited Salman Haider’s residence and assured his family members that all resources were being utilised for his recovery. “For his recovery the assistance of intelligence agencies is also being sought. The authorities concerned knew well the intensity of the agony and stress which the affected family is passing through and attempts are in process to locate the whereabouts of Salman Haider,” the official was further quoted in the statement.

HRCP’s reaction

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed grave concern over four rights activists going missing in Lahore and Islamabad over the last few days. It has demanded their immediate recovery.

“The HRCP is greatly alarmed by Waqas Goraya and Asim Saeed disappearing on January 4, Salman Haider on Friday and Ahmed Raza Naseer on Saturday. All four are known for airing their views, sometime critical of authority, extremism and intolerance, on social media,” it said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2017.