An FIR has been lodged against unidentified suspects in the abduction of YouTuber Aun Ali Khosa from his Lahore home on the night of August 14, 2024.
The complaint was filed by his wife, Benish Iqbal, at Ichhra police station.
Benish reported that eight to ten armed and masked men forcibly entered their home, abducting Aun and seizing his mobile phone, laptop, and camera. She has called for the swift recovery of her husband through legal means.
According to Benish, the intruders posed as security personnel, claiming their car had been hit. When she went to the door but did not open it, Aun peeked through a curtain only to see 10-12 men, some in black uniforms and masks, break into their home.
The suspects allegedly stole Aun's laptop, video equipment, and other valuables, and damaged items within the house. When Benish tried to resist, the men claimed they were responding to a harassment complaint against Aun at the local police station.
The alleged abduction occurred just hours after Aun Ali Khosa had uploaded a satirical song on YouTube titled "Bill Bill Pakistan."
The song, which swiftly went viral, was a clever twist on the iconic patriotic anthem "Dil Dil Pakistan," originally performed by the late Junaid Jamshed.
Aun's rendition struck a chord with the public's growing exasperation over soaring electricity prices and the economic straits tightening around Pakistan.
The bold critique of the government's economic missteps hit the nail on the head, resonating deeply with thousands who shared it across social media platforms, including TikTok.
The song's release on August 14, coinciding with Pakistan's Independence Day, gave it a major boost.
Mere hours after its debut, Aun was reportedly abducted, and the video was promptly pulled from YouTube and other social media platforms.
Following the abduction, Benish immediately sought help from the local police. However, her initial attempts to file an FIR were reportedly met with resistance.
Faced with the police's alleged inaction, she had no choice but to take the matter to the Lahore High Court, which has since instructed the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) to ensure Aun's safe return by August 20.
In her petition to the court, Benish described her husband as a "digital content creator known for his satire and humour," highlighting that Aun had built a significant following on YouTube.
The petition also describes the grim details of the abduction, with masked men holding the family at gunpoint before forcibly taking Aun away in a double-cabin Vigo, followed by the rest of the assailants in a Fortuner SUV.
The incident has triggered an outcry among human rights organizations and the general public. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed deep concern over Aun's disappearance, calling it a "troubling development" in a country where freedom of speech is increasingly under threat.
Amnesty International has also joined in, urging authorities to expedite Aun's recovery and ensure his safety.
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