There is no confirmation from a law enforcement body that Nasir is in their care.
KARACHI: Jibran Nasir, a well-known lawyer and human rights activist from Pakistan, was kidnapped late on Thursday night in Karachi, according to his wife.
Although no law enforcement agency has acknowledged that Nasir is in their care, his kidnapping occurred as the nation was embroiled in new political unrest.
Nasir’s wife, Mansha Pasha, said in a video shared on social media that the couple was being followed by a sedan and a white pickup truck as they were making their way home.
According to Pasha, a well-known actor, “after that, at least 15, probably more men in civilian clothing came and told Jibran to get out of the car,” adding that all the men were armed, some with automatic rifles.
She claimed that they did not provide a justification for removing Nasir.
Pasha claimed that she attempted to file a complaint with the police, but they were hesitant to formally record it.
Requests for comment from a spokeswoman for the provincial government of Sindh went unanswered.
Nasir, who ran as an independent candidate in the 2018 elections, has been a vocal opponent of numerous human rights abuses in the nation and has defended victims in a number of high-profile instances.
He has recently attacked the decision to try party officials imprisoned in large numbers after violent rallies earlier this month and the decision to try them in military courts.
A US report on human rights identifies numerous issues in Pakistan.
The Karachi Press Club will be the site of a demonstration against Jibran’s “unjust abduction” on Friday at 4 p.m., according to the civil society and human rights organisations.
In a statement, the organisations urged people to take part in the protest, saying that it was time to “demand his immediate release and ensure that justice prevails.”
Reaction
Jibran’s detention drew significant criticism and condemnation, especially from civil society groups and human rights organisations.
