The Bannu press club president was abducted outside the shopping Centre on April 19, 2023, and later on, was recovered from South Waziristan. Wazir is currently affiliated with Khyber News in KP.

PPF urges officials and authorities to register FIR against the culprits immediately.

Wazir was abducted for 30 long hours and released in April, 21after which he went to a local hospital.

Speaking to PPF, Wazir told the kidnappers physically and mentally tortured him and knew his identity.

“They took me in the car and travelled half an hour. They stopped in South Waziristan. Upon reaching, they started beating me and gave me electric shocks, which caused my mental health and said threatening words,” Wazir added.

According to Gohar Wazir, he reported the gas issues in the local area of Bannu, BakaKhel and Janikhel. He urged authorities to take strict action against those responsible for the issue.

“From the getup or physical appearance, they were looking like Taliban; a month ago, I spoke against the authorities for violating the citizens of Jani Khel, area of Bannu”, Wazir added.

Wazir said his captors made a video forcefully and threatened him to praise them for maintaining peace in the area.

The journalist community in Bannu protested and called for a fair investigation.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has also condemned the abduction of Gohar Wazir and calls for immediate action.

Muhammad Waseem, the correspondent for Mashriq TV, said the journalists’ community had condemned Wazir’s abduction and torture.

Mubarak Ali, news director for Khyber News, condemned the abduction of Wazir and told PPF that Gohar Wazir is a valuable journalist who reports on the sensitive issues of the local areas.

Moreover, he urges police officials to register a case against the culprits and catch them immediately.

The chairman of the National Democratic Movement Mohsin Jawed Dawar, has also condemned the kidnapping in the National assembly session and urged state authorities to take strict action against the culprits for the safety of journalists.

Farid Niazi, general secretary of the National Press Club of Bannu, condemned the incident and said that due to his fair and honest reporting on sensitive issues of his local areas, Wazir was kidnapped and tortured physically and mentally.

 

The post Journalist Gohar Wazir was detained for covering Pashtun detention first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).