KUALA LUMPUR : The wife of Syed Fawad Ali Shah, a Pakistani journalist living in exile in Malaysia and went missing in August, has sought Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s intervention in her search for her husband. Fawad’s wife, Syeda, said she was also appealing to the public, NGOs and the Malaysian authorities to help find him.
Fawad, 41, , a UNHCR cardholder, has been actively reporting on corruption involving Pakistani officials and missing persons and had fled his home country to seek asylum in Malaysia since 2011, for fear of persecution. He went missing on Aug 23.
Local media reports suggest conflicting remarks on Fawad’s whereabouts, with a foreign ministry source claiming yesterday that he was still in Malaysia.
However, Phil Robertson, the deputy director of Human Rights Watch, said it was all the more unacceptable that the government was not clear about Syed Fawad Ali Shah’s fate. His comments came after reports that Malaysian authorities deported Fawad Shah at the behest of Islamabad.
Speaking at a press conference after travelling to the country from Pakistan on December 19 in search of her husband, Syeda appealed to the public to offer any help possible, while expressing fear over her own safety.
Syeda, as she wishes to be known for security reasons, could not hold back her tears as she recalled suffering a miscarriage after discovering Fawad’s disappearance four months ago.
She said said “I am going through a critical phase in my life. I am asking help from the prime minister to find my husband.
Fearing repercussions in her home country, Syeda said she was unsure of the consequences she might face talking to the media. “But I will fight for my husband until my last breath,” she said.
On Wednesday, Syeda said she had been told by an immigration official that Fawad was wanted for crimes in Pakistan.
“I am worried about him. So, please help me,” she said at a press conference here today.
“I appeal to the Malaysian public and all humanitarian organisations to help in any possible way.
“I am going through a very critical phase of my life. I am asking for help from the prime minister to find my husband. I’m very worried about him. Please, help me.”
Local lawyer Karthigesan Shanmugam, who was also at the press conference, said once Syeda had exhausted all options to find Fawad, the legal team would step in and seek judicial assistance.
He said they would go to court if left with no options.
