Nasrullah Khan Chaudhry, a senior sub-editor of Nai Baat daily newspaper was picked up Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the police during a raid on his home in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and media centre.
Chaudhry’s wife Ghulam Fatima submitted an application to the police station, in which she stated that armed men some in plain clothes accompanied by some in uniform raided their home around 2:15 am on Saturday, November 10 and took away the journalist along his computer.
On November 12, a petition of Chaudhry’s disappearance was filed in the Sindh High Court in missing persons account.
After the petition, Chaudhry was presented before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). The Investigation Officer (IO) Syed Ali Haider asked for a two-week physical remand of the journalist but the ATC Judge Naimatullah Phulpoto rejected his plea. The court gave two-day physical remand of the journalist to CTD and directed the officers to present Chaudhry on November 14.
During the hearing in ATC court the investigating officer of CTD alleged that they have found magazines on Jihad from the journalist’s house but when the judge asked him to show the magazines, he answered that they left the magazines at the journalist home.
The investigating officer stated before the court that they arrested Chaudhry on November 11. But his wife had already submitted application of Chaudhry’s disappearance on November 10.
Tariq Abul Hasan, President of Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) Dastoor told Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) that a demonstration camp had been organized by KPC outside the press club. All PFUJ and KUJ groups are united and protesting against both incidents, forcible intrusion in KPC premises and illegal detention of a senior journalist.
Related Stories
The Nation: Journalist goes missing
The Nation: Missing journalist Religious parties to raise issue at SA
Dawn: Media organisations concerned over ‘illegal detention’ of journalist
Dawn: Journalist Nasrullah Chaudhry handed over to CTD for 2-day physical remand
The Express Tribune: Journalist’s ordeal: Nasrullah Chaudhry remanded in police custody