Jibran Nasir, a well-known rights activist and lawyer, has gone missing after unidentified armed men cornered his vehicle and abducted him from near his residence in Karachi’s DHA on Thursday night.
According to Nasir's wife Mansha Pasha, who was present in the car during the ordeal, at least 15 heavily armed men in multiple vehicles including a white Vigo encircled their vehicle and forcibly took him away.
Read more: Anchorperson Sami Ibrahim 'missing' from Islamabad
“We were returning after having dinner when a white Vigo intercepted and almost crushed us. There were 15 men with pistols and they took away my husband forcibly,” Pasha said in her video statement.
کچھ دیر پہلے میرے شوہر جبران ناصر کو پندرہ کے قریب مسلح لوگ اٹھا کر لے گئے ہیں، اہلیہ منشا پاشا
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) June 1, 2023
What the hell! Why#releasejibrannasir pic.twitter.com/a2wbXeQ6QW
She urged everyone to make efforts and pray for the early recovery of her husband.
Nasir, a former independent candidate in the 2018 general elections from Karachi, has criticised the recent state crackdown on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and legal proceedings concerning individuals allegedly involved in riots.
His efforts to address sectarian violence earned him a place on Foreign Policy Magazine's 2013 list of three inspirational Pakistanis working against such conflicts.
Journalists Imran Riaz Khan, Aftab Iqbal and Sami Ibrahim, all considered supporters of PTI, were also taken into custody earlier this month.
Ibrahim and Iqbal have been released, however, the whereabouts of Imran Riaz Khan remain undisclosed to date.
Media personnel and activists are often among the first to come under the line of fire amid political crackdowns in Pakistan, with the country facing severe criticism from global press freedom and human rights groups for violating the rights of free speech and failing to ensure journalist safety. The country ranked 150/180 on Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2023 Press Freedom Index.
#ReleaseJibranNasir soon started trending on Twitter with members of the civil society and journalists voicing their concerns over Nasir’s abduction and calling for his immediate recovery.
If news of @MJibranNasir being abducted is correct, then the act is entirely unacceptable. One may not agree with many of his recent statements, but must remember that when Lal Masjid goons were being appeased by the state, he alone was standing up to them. Release him now!
— Nadeem Farooq Paracha (@NadeemfParacha) June 1, 2023
Deeply disturbed by news of @MJibranNasir's abduction. He must be released at once. Some of us, including Jibran, have been trying to warn for months that this wave of repression would not stop at PTI. Thank you to the complicit democrats for this new round of state terror.
— Ammar Rashid (@AmmarRashidT) June 1, 2023
Shocking & deeply troubling: the crackdown on dissenting voices in Pakistan is expanding, now seemingly also taking in prominent activist Jibran Nasir who used to criticise abuses during Imran Khan’s govt, and recently criticised the heavy handed targeting of Khan’s supporters https://t.co/YiCmem2EbM
— Secunder Kermani (@SecKermani) June 1, 2023
No words... complete madness#ReleaseJibranNasir https://t.co/QDvUnKIk6w
— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) June 1, 2023
No excuse, no justification for picking up Jibran Nasir. This is extremely disturbing, unconditionally condemnable. #ReleaseJibranNasir
— Zebunnisa Burki (@zburki) June 1, 2023
Very disturbing to hear about @MJibranNasir abduction.Hope Sindh police will assist his family and locate him immediately. Jibran has always spoken against violent extremism and rioting. Hoping for his safe and immediate return
— Salman Sufi (Get New Covid Booster Today) (@SalmanSufi7) June 1, 2023
🚨 ATTENTION: Lawyer & activist Jibran Nasir has been abducted by na maloom afraad from inside his car. We strongly condemn his abduction (which is a clear violation of citizen rights) & urge the govt & LEAs to ensure his immediate + unconditional safe release.#FreeJibranNasir
— Aurat March - عورت مارچ (@AuratMarchKHI) June 1, 2023
Lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir picked up in Karachi, says wife۔
— Wajahat Masood (@wajahatmasood) June 1, 2023
This is sheer terror.
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