Senior journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat went missing on Saturday morning from Lahore.
Hamid took to Twitter and confirmed the news. “Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crimes Wing Lahore kidnapped journalist Amir Mir in Lahore this morning.”
“We came to know about his location after 5 hours. FIA snatched his [Amir Mir’s] phone and laptop,” read the tweet. Amir Mir is Hamid Mir’s brother.
Hamid Mir also wrote about the disappearance of Imran Shafqat, stating that FIA arrested him as well.
Meanwhile, Imran Shafqat was arrested from his house by use of force. As per reports, around10 people, both men, and women barged into his residence, raided his place, and took him away.
Talking to BBC, Imran Shafqat’s sister Anum Noor said, “The bell rang at our house in Mughalpura area of Lahore at 12:30pm today. My brother Imran Shafqat opened the door after which 10 people entered our house.”
Anum Noor said eight of the 10 people were without uniforms and two were wearing “white uniforms”.
“They said we came from the FIA. Didn’t say more than that. Neither did they show an arrest warrant,” added Noor.
“They dragged my brother out of the house,” said Noor Anum.
Journalist Shahid Aslam confirmed that both Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat are in the custody of FIA.
Director FIA Cyber Crimes Wing Lahore, DIG Babar Bakht is supervising the investigation, as per Shahid Aslam.
Reportedly Imran Shafqat is accused of doing a Vlog against the “First Lady” whereas the reasons to arrest Amir Mir are still unknown.
Some say Amir Mir has been arrested for a news story that ran on his YouTube channel, Googly News.
Twitter reacted to the alleged abduction of both Imran Shafqat and Amir Mir.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) tweeted, “We demand safe return and an immediate inquiry into the circumstances of his disappearance.”
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto strongly condemned the arrest of journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat and demanded their release.
Journalist Raza Rumi tweeted, “I have spent about 18 summers of my life in England. I have seen the British media, they are very open and free. But the Pakistan media, in my opinion, is freer than the British media: PM Imran Khan.”
Journalist Asma Shirazi questions, “When will the disappearance of journalists stop?”
Journalist Zebunnia Burki tweeted, ” I’d say unbelievable, but it’s really not.”
