By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
PESHAWAR: Militants allegedly abducted social media activist Eisa Khan from the Ghwah area of South Waziristan and transported him to an unknown location, local sources said on Tuesday.
Sources said that Eisa Khan was picked up by gunmen from a shop in his village, from where he was taken towards an unidentified location in a vehicle. The family members have approached police but have not yet taken any steps to recover him.
According to residents, Eisa Khan was raising his voice for human rights and peace on social media and discouraging militancy.
The reported abduction of Eisa Khan has also prompted renewed calls for authorities to ensure the safe recovery of the activist and investigate those responsible.
Journalists and human rights defenders have urged relevant authorities, press-freedom organizations and international rights bodies to take urgent measures to protect media workers and social media activists facing threats in the former Fata.
The abduction of a social media activist further raised fresh concerns about the safety of journalists, social media activists and their families in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), where militants have increasingly targeted social media activists and journalists who report on security issues, human rights and local affairs.
Journalists and social media activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa especially in district Khyber and Waziristan have repeatedly faced life threats, harassment, abductions and attacks in recent years. In several cases, pressure has also been extended to their family members, forcing media workers to restrict their reporting or leave their homes.
The latest incident comes amid renewed militant activity in the former Fata, particularly in Khyber and the Waziristan region. Security incidents, including attacks on security personnel, targeted killings and militant activity, have increased concerns among local communities as well as journalists covering the conflict.
Journalists working in the tribal districts said reporting on militancy and human rights remained particularly difficult because they face pressure from multiple sides.
Social media activists have also increasingly become targets because of their posts and commentary on security operations, disappearances, militant activity and local political and social issues.
They said the safety of journalists and their families should be treated as an immediate concern, particularly in areas where militant groups continue to operate and where access to independent reporting remains limited.
It may be added here recently house of journalists Lal Wazir and Miraj Khalid were attacked by militants and subjected their family members to to torture but luckily the journalists were not at home at the time of attack. Terrorists later issued video which they were touring family members of the journalists.
