MM News

KUALA LUMPUR: The wife of missing Pakistani investigative journalist Syed Fawad Ali Shah, who was reportedly deported to his home country by Malaysian authorities on Islamabad’s request, is seeking a habeas corpus order for her husband.

Also read: Pak journo goes missing in Malaysia, wife seeks PM’s intervention

Syeda, through her solicitors, S Karthigesan and R Kengadharan, filed a suit in the Kuala Lumpur High Court, wanted the court to declare that the police and Immigration Department acted wrongly and violated the law in deporting the journalist last August.

The suit names the government, former home minister Hamzah Zainudin, immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud, Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, the government of Pakistan, the representative for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Kuala Lumpur Thomas Albrecht, DSP Kanden and current home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

At a press conference today, her lawyers said the plaintiffs are seeking a habeas corpus order for the authorities to produce Fawad within 24 hours of the court’s order to do so.

Alternatively, if Fawad has been deported, they have asked for the authorities to repatriate him back to Malaysia.

They are also seeking an interlocutory injunction against the government from deporting Fawad from Malaysia until further order by the court.

The plaintiffs are also asking for an interim order for Syeda and her brother to remain in Malaysia at the reasonable expense of the government until the final determination of the case.

At a press conference today, her lawyers said the plaintiffs are seeking a habeas corpus order for the authorities to produce Fawad within 24 hours of the court’s order to do so.

Alternatively, if Fawad has been deported, they have asked for the authorities to repatriate him back to Malaysia.

They are also seeking an interlocutory injunction against the government from deporting Fawad from Malaysia until further order by the court.

The plaintiffs are also asking for an interim order for Syeda and her brother to remain in Malaysia at the reasonable expense of the government until the final determination of the case.

BACKGROUND:

Fawad, 41, who had been in exile in Malaysia for more than 10 years, had been missing since Aug 23 last year.

A holder of a refugee card issued by the UNHCR, he had sought asylum in Malaysia for alleged persecution in Pakistan over articles published in several English dailies there related to purported government corruption.

Earlier this month, Saifuddin said Fawad had been deported in August at the request of the Pakistani government.

Saifuddin said while the Malaysian media had described Fawad as a journalist, Pakistani authorities claimed he was a former policeman facing disciplinary action.