Jibran Nasir, a prominent lawyer and human rights activist, has returned home safely after reportedly going missing for nearly 22 hours.
Nasir’s wife, Mansha Pasha, had earlier stated that armed individuals forcefully abducted her husband in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area.
In a video statement shared on social media, Pasha recounted the incident, saying that as they were returning home from dinner late Thursday night, their car was intercepted by approximately 15 armed men traveling in a white double-cabin vehicle.
“We were returning home from dinner when a big white car intercepted us, almost causing us to crash. There were some 15 people armed with pistols. They forcefully took away my husband,” Pasha said, visibly shaken by the ordeal.
Following Pasha’s complaint, Karachi police registered a case of “kidnapping” at the Clifton Police Station under two sections of the Pakistan Penal Code – 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
Initially, the police hesitated to register the First Information Report (FIR), but Pasha vowed to approach the court if the case was not registered promptly. She also requested immediate action to ensure her husband’s swift release in her application.
The news of Nasir’s abduction sparked widespread condemnation, with people from all walks of life expressing concern and demanding his safe return. A protest was organized in Karachi outside the press club, where Nasir’s family and numerous individuals from different professions voiced their support and called for his immediate release.
The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) strongly condemned Nasir’s kidnapping, urging for the immediate release of all arrested lawyers. Similarly, the Sindh Bar Council (SBC) condemned the abduction and appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial to intervene in the matter.
As of now, a team of Karachi police is scheduled to meet with Advocate Jibran Nasir to gather further details about his disappearance. The circumstances surrounding his abduction and subsequent return remain under investigation.
