What Happened: On Friday, Geo.Tv issued a report about their senior reporter, Ali Imran Syed who went missing. According to Geo.Tv’s report, Imran left his home between 7pm and 8pm after telling his family he would be back home in half an hour. He has not returned home since. His wife told the media that Imran’s car was parked outside the house and he had left his mobile phone at home too. What now: Karachi police chief and DIG East have been informed about Imran’s disappearance by Geo Administration, Imran’s family has also submitted a report to Sachal police station. SHO Haroon Korai confirmed that the family had submitted an application. “However, an FIR has not been registered so far,” he said.
What people are saying: Activist and journalist are condemning this act on social media as #BringBackAliImran is in the top trend of Twitter right now. According to some journalists, Ali Imran was abducted because he found the CCTV-footage of Cpt. Safdar’s arrest after the PDM Karachi rally.
Reporter #AliImran aired the CCTV footage of Avari Hotel raid to arrest #CaptainSafdar
He seems to be a victim of enforced disappearance for doing his journalistic duty. #Journalismisnotacrime and journalists need protection in #Pakistan #BringBackAliImran pic.twitter.com/gEaG1yUeKp— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) October 24, 2020
Welcome to Pakistan, where reporters are punished for doing their jobs well. #BringBackAliImran
— Nida Kirmani (@NidaKirmani) October 24, 2020
Geo reporter Ali Imran has “disappeared” because he dug out video evidence showing WHO is responsible for the Safdar/IGP affair. Will any Inquiry Committee take note? #BringBackAliImran @CPJAsia @RSF_inter @HRCP87
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) October 24, 2020
It seems we don't have democracy anymore #BringBackAliImran #Journalismisnotacrime https://t.co 1ywUB1H6G
— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) October 24, 2020
Journalist Ali Imran’s abduction is result of cowardice our civilian and constitutional organs of the state are showing about the past incidents of similar nature. #BringBackAliImran
— Matiullah Jan (@Matiullahjan919) October 24, 2020
#BringBackAliImran
Strongly condemn the abduction of #AliImran. Professional journalism is a crime in #Pakistan.#GayaPakistan https://t.co/oJapzfhgjM— Bushra Gohar (@BushraGohar) October 24, 2020
International Organizations and Human Right Commission Pakistan have also condemned Ali Imran’s disappearance.
Pakistan: Ali Imran Syed, a reporter for Geo News, has been missing from Karachi since yesterday and feared to have been subject to an enforced disappearance for his reporting. The authorities must establish his whereabouts immediately. #JournalismIsNotACrime #EndDisappearances
— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) October 24, 2020
HRCP demands the immediate release of Ali Imran Syed, a correspondent for @geonews_urdu. #Journalismisnotacrime
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) October 24, 2020