ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad-based journalist was allegedly kidnapped and later released late last night, prompting the police of the federal capital to kick off investigation after being directed by the federal government.
The Police formed a committee under DIG Operations to investigate the alleged kidnapping and release of journalist Irfan Raza from all angles. An FIR was also registered on the complaint of the senior journalist’s family.
The journalist working for a local newspaper, identified as Irfan Raza, was allegedly abducted by four armed gunmen from the jurisdiction of Ramna Police Station last night. His friends told media that before fleeing from the scene, the kidnappers also threatened his family.
Former President of National Press Club Islamabad, Shakeel Qarar, was the first person to report the incident.
اسلام آباد ، تھانہ رمنا کی حدود سے ڈان اخبار کے سینئر رپورٹر عرفان رضا کو مبینہ طورپر چار مسلح افراد گاڑی سمیت اغوا کرکے لے گے ، اغوا کار جاتے ہوئے اسکی اہلیہ کو بھی اسلحے کی نوک پر دھمکی دیتے ہوئے فرار ، یہ کیا ہورہا ہے اسلام آباد میں @ICT_Police @dcislamabad @SdqJaan
— Shakeel Qarar (@Qarar009) November 3, 2022
Journalists as well as members of the civil society staged storm on social media, tagging personalities of the federal government to take notice and come into action. Almost two and half hours after the incident, federal information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb tweeted that she had talked with Raza who is totally fine.
She took to Twitter saying the journalist had informed his family that he is completely fine. “I am in constant contact with Irfan Raza’s family which has reached Chakri to pick him up,” she added.
سینئر صحافی عرفان رضا بخیریت ہیں، الحمدللہ۔ میری ان سے بات ہوئی ہے۔ عرفان نے اپنے اہل خانہ کو فون کرکے اطلاع دی ہے کہ وہ خیریت سے ہیں۔ میں ان کے اہل خانہ سے مسلسل رابطے میں ہوں جو عرفان رضا کو لینے چکری پہنچ گئے ہیں۔واقعے کی تحقیات جاری ہیں۔
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) November 3, 2022
