Quetta-based journalist released after hours in detention

Afzal Mughal works as a reporter for Online news agency, and a local daily in Quetta

QUETTA: After keeping him in detention for over 12 hours, unidentified men released Quetta-based journalist Afzal Mughal on Tuesday evening.

Mughal is the vice president of Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ), and works for Online news agency and a regional newspaper.

BUJ spokesperson said a group of armed men stormed Mughal’s house at 2:30am on Tuesday.

“He was kicked and punched as the armed men dragged him outside the house,” BUJ official said, quoting the wife of the kidnapped journalist.



“I am fine now. I was blindfolded and taken to an unknown place,” said Mughal after his release.

In 2014, bureau chief of the same news agency was shot dead along with his two colleagues.



“Journalists in Balochistan are working under immense pressure and certain groups want their influence on journalists, newspapers and news channels,” President of BUJ Hamadullah said.

According to the BUJ, as many as 44 journalists have been killed in Balochistan in recent years but no criminal was  punished in this regard.