NEW YORK, Jan 21: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says it is deeply concerned about the prolonged detention of freelance journalist Khawar Mehdi Rizvi and has called upon the Pakistan government to confirm which agency is holding Mr Rizvi , to make any charges against him public, or to release him immediately.

In a letter to President Pervez Musharraf, the CPJ points out that Mr Rizvi was last seen on Dec 16, 2003, the same day that officers from the Federal Investigation Agency arrested reporter Marc Epstein and photographer Jean-Paul Guilloteau, both from the French weekly L'Express, at their hotel in Karachi.

The CPJ letter, which has been faxed to newspaper offices, also says Pakistan officials, including the president, have accused Mr Epstein, Mr Guilloteau and Mr Rizvi of fabricating their material about alleged Taliban activity in the Pakistan-Afghan border area.

The French journalists deny these allegations. The CPJ has asked for Mr Rizvi to be given his right to due process in a court of law.