The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has condemned the ‘illegal and arbitrary’ detention of journalist Waris Raza in Karachi, saying that the manner in which he was taken into custody was ‘an attempt to intimidate’.
In a tweet, the HRCP condemned the ‘detention’ of journalist Waris Raza and stated that the manner of his ‘abduction’ and authorities’ refusal to give an indication as to his whereabouts was ‘clearly an attempt to intimidate’.
The HRCP further said, “With Mr Raza having returned home, the incident must be investigated and the high-handedness of the perpetrators punished.”
HRCP strongly condemns the illegal and arbitrary detention of senior journalist #WarisRaza in Karachi. The manner of his abduction – late at night and the Rangers' refusal to indicate why or where he was being taken – was clearly intended to intimidate. @LylaRaza pic.twitter.com/SMFFaPTKrU
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) September 22, 2021
According to media reports, journalist Waris Raza, returned home on Tuesday night following his ‘detention’ on Monday.
Media reports stated that Raza gave comments about his ‘detention’ to the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) and stated that he had returned to his house safely. Raza further shed light on the manner in which he was taken into custody, saying that those who had done so blindfolded him and questioned him about his journalistic activities and writings.
The incident had received condemnation on social media as the hashtag ‘Release Waris Raza’ trended online after reports of his detention. Karachi Union of Journalists in a tweet demanded the immediate release of the journalist.
سینئر صحافی کراچی پریس کلب اور @OfficialKUJ کے رکن @OfficialPfuj کی 70 سالہ تاریخی جدوجہد کو بطور مدیر کتابی شکل دینے والے وارث رضا کو رات گئے گھر سے حراست میں لے لیا گیا نامعلوم مقام پر منتقل،کے یو جے کی مذمت فوری رہائی کا مطالبہ @HamidMirPAK @MazharAbbasGEO @geofahmigeo pic.twitter.com/7aI0rC7VIh
— Karachi Union of Journalists (@OfficialKUJ) September 22, 2021
The journalist’s daughter also took to Twitter to raise the issue and stated that her father had done nothing but spoken truth to ‘powers that be’.
It’s been ten hours now, my papa, senior journalist and columnist Waris Raza was abducted by law enforcement agencies last night, they want to suppress all progressive voices! My father has done nothing but speak truth to powers that be!#ReleaseWarisRaza
— Laila Raza (@LylaRaza) September 22, 2021
