Drone victim abducted in Pakistan

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Tuesday February 11, 2014 01:10 by Justin Morahan

Man had filed a case against CIA

Mairead Maguire has called on Pakistani Prime Minister to release Kareem Khan, whom she describes as a man of peace

Kareem Khan is a Pakistani journalist, who lost his son and brother in a US drone attack some years ago and had filed a case against the CIA station director was arrested at his home early on 5 February and has not been seen or heard of since. He was expected to brief German, Dutch and English parliamentarians in Europe on Saturday about his personal experience with drone strikes and their impact.

A legal charity, Reprieve, reported that Mr Khan was seized by 15-20 men in police uniforms. The men did not disclose their identities and no reason was given for the detention. Mr. Khan's wife and young children were present at the time, along with a neighbour.
Kareem Khan to the court on 12 February.

His brother, Asif Iqbal, a teacher, and his son Zahinullah were killed by drone strikes some years ago.

Mr Khan's lawyer Mr. Akbar said in the press release, "It is a shame that Nawaz Sharif has allowed Pakistan to be a police state, where no fundamental rights are available to its citizens. Khan is not only a victim, but an important voice for all other civilians killed and injured by US drone strikes. Why are the powers that be so scared of Kareem and his work that they felt the need to abduct him in an effort to silence his efforts? Kareem Khan deserves justice and due process and he should be freed immediately of his illegal captivity."

Mairead Maguire is one of many international figures who have called on the Pakistani Government and Prime Minister to do everything possible to ensure Mr Khan's release.