KARACHI: Journalist and social media activist Arsalan Khan was released by Rangers in the small hours of Saturday.

Mr Khan took to twitter after his release and posted: “I’m back home safe & sound. Thank you everyone for all the help & support you people extended to my lone family in this testing time. I’m truly short of words. Love you all.”

Confirming the detention of Mr Khan, the paramilitary force said in a statement that he was detained from his Clifton apartment over suspicion of having links with a ‘terrorist group’.

Mr Khan, who had worked with different television channels, was taken into custody early on Friday morning, but no law enforcement agency had acknowledged his arrest. Hence, his ‘abduction’ provoked an outcry on social media with local and international human rights organisations calling it a serious violation of freedom of expression and demanded his immediate release.

A Rangers spokesperson said in the statement issued in the early hours of Saturday morning: “Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) carried out an intelligence-based action in Karachi’s Clifton area on June 24 and arrested Mohammed Amir Arsalan Khan alias ‘AK-47’ on the basis of his links with a terrorist group.”

Without naming the group, the statement claimed: “During initial probe, the held suspect revealed taking financial assistance from the said terror group and his association with it.”

The paramilitary force said that the activist’s case would be transferred to ‘relevant authorities’ for a fully fledged inquiry against his alleged involvement in a ‘white-collar crime’.

“In the meantime, the suspect has been released with a ‘warning’ to cooperate in future with the investigation about the alleged white-collar crime,” the statement said.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.