Pak - journalist feared kidnapped following death threats in Balochistan | Pakistan |
(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has expressed deep concern about the disappearance of
Riaz
Mengal, of the newspaper "Intikhab" based in Khuzdar, Balochistan
province
in south-western Pakistan.
His family and colleagues have said they suspect a minister is
implicated
in his abduction.
Just before his disappearance, Mengal had written articles about
mafia
trafficking of stolen cars. "Riaz had received death threats after
his
investigations. His life was in danger," one Balochi journalist told
RSF.
The worldwide press freedom organisation called on the authorities in
Balochistan and Islamabad to do their utmost to find the journalist
as
quickly as possible. "The minister, Naseer Mengal, whose name has
been
cited in this case, should explain himself and help to find the
journalist," the organisation added.
His family has laid a complaint at a police station in Khuzdar, giving
the
name of the minister. Police so far have no serious leads.
Demonstrations
calling for his release were held on 9 October 2007 in Quetta and
Khuzdar.
RSF pointed out that Munir Mengal, one of the managers of the channel
Baloch Voice, has been held without trial since April 2006. The High
Court
in Balochistan ruled on 12 September that he was not guilty of any
crime
and ordered his immediate release, but police are continuing to hold
him
(see IFEX alerts of 21 September and 10 August 2007, 30 October and
12
April 2006).
For further information, contact Vincent Brossel at RSF, 5, rue
Geoffroy
Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 70, fax: +33 1 45 23 11
51,
e-mail: asie@rsf.org, Internet: http://www.rsf.org
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