Third missing Pakistani activist safe

AFP, ISLAMABAD: A third Pakistani activist who went missing earlier this month is safe, his family told AFP Sunday, a day after two of the other disappeared men were confirmed secure.
The activist, named only as Asim by his family for safety reasons, was among five who went missing more than two weeks ago, sparking fears of a government crackdown and resulting in protests.
“Asim contacted us by phone on Sunday morning and told us that he is well,” a relative requesting anonymity told AFP, saying the family had been receiving threats.
On Saturday, academic Salman Haider and another blogger whose family asked not to be named were reported safe by their families.
Two others remain unaccounted for.
The five men—who campaigned for human rights and religious freedom—went missing from various cities between January 4 and 7, triggering nationwide protests. No group has claimed responsibility.
But Human Rights Watch and other rights groups said their near simultaneous disappearances raised concerns of government involvement, which officials and intelligence sources have denied.
“These abductions bear all the hallmarks of the modus operandi of the Pakistan state,” Saroop Ijaz, representative of Human Rights Watch in Pakistan told AFP.

Third missing Pakistani activist safe

AFP, ISLAMABAD: A third Pakistani activist who went missing earlier this month is safe, his family told AFP Sunday, a day after two of the other disappeared men were confirmed secure. The activist, named only as Asim by his family for safety reasons, was among five who went missing more than two weeks ago, sparking fears of a government crackdown and resulting in protests. Asim contacted us by phone on Sunday morning and told us that he is well, a relative requesting anonymity told AFP, saying the family had been receiving threats. On Saturday, academic Salman Haider and another blogger whose family asked not to be named were reported safe by their families. Two others remain unaccounted for. The five menwho campaigned for human rights and religious freedomwent missing from various cities between January 4 and 7, triggering nationwide protests. No group has claimed responsibility. But Human Rights Watch and other rights groups said their near simultaneous disappearances raised concerns of government involvement, which officials and intelligence sources have denied. These abductions bear all the hallmarks of the modus operandi of the Pakistan state, Saroop Ijaz, representative of Human Rights Watch in Pakistan told AFP.