Amnesty International has expressed concern over the disappearance of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Azhar Mashwani, who was reportedly “arrested and abducted” last week.
In a tweet, the human rights organization stated it was “alarmed by reports of the enforced disappearance” of Mashwani, whose location remains unknown.
The NGO urged the Pakistani government to release all disappeared individuals or bring them before a civilian court to determine the legality of their arrest or detention.
The PTI announced that it would raise the issue of cases filed against its leadership and the arrests of its workers at the international level.
In addition, senior party leader Dr. Shireen Mazari mentioned that the party had prepared a document detailing “human rights violations” against PTI supporters from April 10, 2022, to March 21, 2023.
Fawad Chaudhry, senior PTI leader, condemned the “arrest and abduction” of around 750 leaders and workers, including Mashwani and Shahid Hussain.
The arrests came as part of a crackdown on PTI supporters involved in recent clashes with security forces. PTI supporters clashed with police in Lahore while trying to prevent Imran Khan’s arrest at his residence and later in Islamabad as he appeared in court.