JournalismPakistan.com | Published April 07, 2025 at 07:38 pm | JP Staff Report
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD—The Ministry of Defence informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday that it does not have custody of the two missing brothers of journalist Ahmad Noorani, nor does it know their whereabouts.
Justice Inam Amin Minhas presided over the hearing of the petition concerning Saifur Rahman Haider and Muhammad Ali, who were allegedly forcibly abducted from their home in Islamabad during the night between March 18 and 19 by unidentified men.
Ahmad Noorani, a well-known investigative journalist, has been living in self-exile in the United States for several years due to threats to his safety in Pakistan.
During the proceedings, IG Islamabad Police Ali Nasir Rizvi told the court that a special investigation team had been constituted to trace the missing individuals. He shared that mobile SIM activity linked to both brothers was detected in Bahawalpur and Uch Sharif on March 22 and 23, while their phones had remained switched off from March 19 to 21.
Rizvi added that police teams had been dispatched to Bahawalpur and Sindh, and that coordination was ongoing with the Punjab Police, given that the missing brothers are originally from Bahawalpur. He confirmed that the police are also exploring the possibility of abduction.
Despite these developments, Justice Inam Minhas issued a clear directive: “My instruction is to produce the individuals.”
The case has raised serious concerns about the safety of journalists’ families and the growing number of enforced disappearances in Pakistan.
اسلام آباد — وزارتِ دفاع نے پیر کے روز اسلام آباد ہائی کورٹ کو آگاہ کیا کہ صحافی احمد نورانی کے دو لاپتہ بھائی ان کی تحویل میں نہیں ہیں اور انہیں ان کی موجودہ جگہ کا علم نہیں۔
جسٹس انعام امین منہاس نے احمد نورانی کے بھائیوں سیف الرحمان حیدر اور محمد علی کی گمشدگی سے متعلق درخواست کی سماعت کی۔ دونوں بھائیوں کو 18 اور 19 مارچ کی درمیانی رات اسلام آباد میں واقع ان کے گھر سے نامعلوم افراد نے زبردستی اغوا کر لیا تھا۔
واضح رہے کہ احمد نورانی کئی سالوں سے امریکہ میں خود ساختہ جلاوطنی کی زندگی گزار رہے ہیں کیونکہ پاکستان میں ان کی جان کو خطرات لاحق تھے۔
سماعت کے دوران آئی جی اسلام آباد علی ناصر رضوی نے عدالت کو بتایا کہ انہوں نے ایک خصوصی تحقیقاتی ٹیم تشکیل دی ہے جو لاپتہ افراد کو تلاش کرنے کے لیے کوششیں کر رہی ہے۔
انہوں نے مزید بتایا کہ 22 اور 23 مارچ کو دونوں بھائیوں کی سم ایکٹیویٹی بہاولپور اور اوچ شریف میں ٹریس ہوئی، جبکہ 19 سے 21 مارچ تک دونوں کے موبائل فون بند رہے۔
آئی جی نے عدالت کو بتایا کہ پولیس ٹیمیں بہاولپور اور سندھ بھیجی گئی ہیں، اور پنجاب پولیس کے ساتھ رابطہ بھی جاری ہے کیونکہ دونوں بھائیوں کا تعلق بہاولپور سے ہے۔ انہوں نے مزید کہا کہ پولیس اس کیس کو اغوا کے طور پر بھی دیکھ رہی ہے۔
تاہم عدالت نے واضح ہدایات جاری کرتے ہوئے کہا: "میری ہدایت ہے کہ افراد کو عدالت میں پیش کیا جائے۔
یہ کیس پاکستان میں صحافیوں کے اہلِ خانہ کی سلامتی اور جبری گمشدگیوں کے بڑھتے ہوئے واقعات پر شدید تحفظات کو اجاگر کرتا ہے۔
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.