JournalismPakistan.com | Published October 19, 2024 at 09:17 pm | JP Staff Report
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD—Senior journalist Farukh Nawaz Bhatti was abducted from his home in Islamabad early Saturday morning, raising serious concerns about the safety of journalists and the state of press freedom in Pakistan.
According to Bhatti's wife, who witnessed the terrifying ordeal, several masked men forcibly entered their residence and swiftly overpowered Bhatti, and bundled him into a waiting vehicle before speeding away.
"They came out of nowhere, like shadows in the night," Bhatti's distraught wife said. "Before we could even comprehend what was happening, they had taken my husband. I couldn't even see their faces properly."
Hours after the abduction, the Islamabad Police have yet to provide any substantial information about the incident. Despite the family's desperate pleas, law enforcement agencies have been unable or unwilling to shed light on who might be behind the kidnapping or what possible motives they might have.
The family has made an impassioned appeal to the Ministry of Interior to intervene in the matter and ensure Bhatti's safe return. "We implore the Ministry to play its role and help recover Farukh," his wife pleaded.
Bhatti's abduction has reignited debate about the precarious situation faced by journalists in Pakistan. The country has long been considered one of the most dangerous places for media professionals, with numerous incidents of violence, intimidation, and censorship reported each year.
March 25, 2025: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has promised to name a journalism department in an educational institution after slain journalist Arshad Sharif. This follows a suggestion by analyst Ather Kazmi during an interview.
March 25, 2025: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the arrest of Karachi journalist Farhan Mallick, founder of Raftar, demanding his immediate release. The PFUJ has also denounced the case, calling it an attack on press freedom in Pakistan.
March 24, 2025: Who will be responsible if my sons are harmed?" cries a mother in Islamabad High Court, pleading for justice after her sons' alleged abduction. The court summons the IG police over the alleged kidnapping. The family claims intelligence agencies are involved.
March 24, 2025: Explore the 10 critical reasons why Pakistan's legacy media continues to disappoint, from political bias and corporate influence to digital transition failures and unsustainable business models in Pakistani journalism.
March 22, 2025: The arrest of journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick under PECA violations has sparked concerns over press freedom in Pakistan. Digital rights activists warn of increasing state suppression.
March 21, 2025: Geo Group’s security guards allegedly led an assault on protesting journalists in Islamabad, dismantling their camp and threatening them. The hypocrisy of a media giant advocating press freedom while suppressing its workers is exposed.
March 21, 2025: CPJ demands Pakistani authorities reveal the whereabouts of journalist Asif Karim Khehtran and the abducted brothers of US-based journalist Ahmad Noorani, condemning the ongoing media crackdown.
March 20, 2025: The FIA has arrested journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick over his YouTube content, sparking concerns over press freedom. His family and media organizations demand transparency and his immediate release.
March 25, 2025 Turkish authorities must release detained journalists covering protests and end press crackdowns. CPJ condemns police violence and home raids targeting media workers.
March 23, 2025 The severed pig’s head sent to Indonesia’s leading news outlet, Tempo, signals escalating media intimidation amid President Prabowo Subianto’s attacks on foreign-funded media.
March 19, 2025 Apply for the NYU Stern Climate Economics Journalism Fellowship to deepen your understanding of climate economics and its impact on global finance. Applications close on April 20, 2025.
March 16, 2025 The Trump administration has ordered furloughs at U.S.-funded broadcasters, including Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia, raising concerns about press freedom and government control over media funding.
March 15, 2025 Explore the dynamic relationship between athletes and sports journalists, examining the challenges, ethical dilemmas, and mutual benefits that shape the sports media landscape.