Journalist Nafees Naeem returns home safely

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 15 June 2022

Nafees Naeem was abducted and later returned home safely within 24 hours. His disappearance sparked widespread concern about media safety in Pakistan.

Summary

KARACHI—Nafees Naeem, assignment editor for Aaj News TV, returned home safely within 24 hours of being abducted. He went missing on Monday after he was "picked up" by unknown men in plainclothes.

In a tweet, the director news Aaj News, Kamal Siddiqi, informed, "Aaj senior assignment editor Nafees Naim has safely returned home. Thank you to all colleagues, well-wishers and media organisations who helped make this happen."

The journalist was allegedly detained by law-enforcement agencies while buying groceries near his residence in the Nazimabad area of Karachi.

CCTV footage showed two men in plain clothes stepping out of a vehicle while another rushes in and bundles Naeem into the vehicle's backseat.

A police automobile was also following the Vigo, witnesses claimed.

The management of Aaj News had strongly condemned the disappearance of the senior assignment editor. "If any person has acted against the law, legal action should be taken against them," Aaj News said in a statement, emphasizing that everyone has the right to defend themselves in a court of law.

Several media and human rights organizations demanded that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah take notice of the incident.

Photo courtesy: Aaj News

KEY POINTS:

• Nafees Naeem returned home after 24 hours of abduction.
• He was allegedly taken by plainclothes men near his home.
• CCTV footage captured his abduction by unknown individuals.
• Aaj News condemned the incident and called for legal action.
• Media organizations urged government officials to address the case.