In a major relief for the journalist community of Pakistan, senior journalist Sami Abraham, who had gone missing on May 24, has returned.
According to the details, Sami Abraham has been admitted to a hospital in Islamabad, however, it is unclear for what reasons.
Sami Abraham was reportedly taken away by unidentified men in Islamabad last week, according to family, who claimed that there was no information about his whereabouts.
Ali Raza, the brother of Abraham, had subsequently filed a complaint of abduction at Aabpara Police Station.
سمیع ابراہیم کی واپسی مبارک۔۔ اللہ اپکو جلد مکمل صحت یاب کرے امین pic.twitter.com/pJv1lqqktX
— Waqas Amjad ( محترم ) (@waqas_amjaad) May 29, 2023
Taking to Twitter, Sami Abraham expressed gratitude to God for his return. Pertinent to mention that details of his six-day disappearance have not been revealed yet.
Read more: Death of journalist Imtiaz Baig mourned by Pakistani public
شکر الحمدللہ! 🙏🏼
— Sami Abraham (@samiabrahim) May 30, 2023
It is indeed a relief for Pakistan’s journalist community that Sami Abraham returned home safely, now the return of anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan is being awaited.
Members of Pakistan’s media fraternity have expressed gratitude over the safe return of Sami Abraham and hoped that senior anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan would also return safely.
سمیع ابراہیم صاحب آ گئے ،
عمران بھائی بھی جلد آجائیں گے، انشاء اللہ
عمران بھائی کے لیے آواز اٹھاتے رہیں، دعائیں کرتے رہیں #ReleaseImranRiazKhan— Siddique Jan (@SdqJaan) May 29, 2023
شکرالحمدللہ!!
سینیئر صحافی و تجزیہ کار @BOLNETWORK
سمیع ابراہیم @samiabrahim رہا ہوگئے!سب دوستوں کا شکریہ جنہوں نے آواز اٹھائی!!
انشاللہ عمران ریاض خان @ImranRiazKhan بھی جلد بازیاب ہوں گے!!! pic.twitter.com/6hn1UGQ3Ye
— M Azhar Siddique (@AzharSiddique) May 29, 2023
سمیع ابراہیم گھر پہنچ گئے، فیملی کو بہت بہت مبارک
عمران ریاض کی باری ہے اب #ReleaseImranRiaz pic.twitter.com/Y95CG6s0tG— Sabir Shakir (@ARYSabirShakir) May 29, 2023
Both senior journalists have gone missing since an aggressive crackdown by the state on the PTI leadership, workers, and supporters started after the May 9 riots and protests following the PTI chief’s arrest.
Sami Abraham went missing from the federal capital on Thursday and has returned, whereas the whereabouts of Imran Riaz Khan are still unknown.
Anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan, who is a staunch and vocal supporter of the PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his policies, was arrested by the police on May 11 from Sialkot Airport. The journalist was reportedly arrested for allegedly inciting violence during clashes between security forces and PTI supporters.
Read more: Bhakkar Police take action against culprit for whipping local journalist
The Committee to Protect Journalists had earlier urged authorities in Pakistan to reveal the whereabouts of the senior journalists and stop intimidating the press.
Pertinent to mention that on May 12, the LHC ordered the IG prisons to present the journalist in court on the same day. The IG, however, told the court that the jail authorities had already released Khan.