Oppression on Azhar Mashwani and His Family
Last year, Azhar Mashwani, the focal person for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's digital media, was mysteriously abducted on 23rd June while he was taking a cab to visit Zaman Park [1]. Initially met with callous indifference by the Lahore police, his family's persistent appeals eventually led to court intervention which eventually compelled the authorities to register a case [2]. Despite the efforts of human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) [3] and Amnesty International [4], which condemned the abduction and demanded Azhar's immediate production before a court of law, the authorities’ response was slow and inadequate.
For eight harrowing days, Azhar endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of his captors [5]. His emergence marked the end of one chapter of his ordeal, yet tragically, it did not bring an end to the torment his family continued to endure.
Over the last fifteen months, the Mashwani family has become a stark symbol of the horrific abuses suffered by political dissidents and their families in Pakistan. Their home has been raided multiple times by plain-clothed officials, who callously took away Azhar's 73-year-old father and his brother—a dedicated college professor with four young children [7]. Azhar's brother was forcibly taken and remained missing for over nine excruciating months [8]. The prolonged absence of his brother plunged the family into a harrowing state of uncertainty, intensifying their distress. This underscores the regime's blatant disregard for fundamental human rights and legal principles. Despite lacking any political ties, his family faced relentless pressure, solely aimed at stifling Azhar Mashwani's voice.
To compound their suffering, Azhar’s family members were added to the Exit Control List (ECL) [9], a draconian measure designed to imprison them within their own country. Azhar's wife—a person with no political affiliations whatsoever—was shamefully offloaded from a plane. As if these atrocities weren't enough, the nightmare continued in June 2024 when Mazhar and Zahoor Mashwani were abducted once again. Their whereabouts still remain unknown, leaving their loved ones in agonizing suspense [10-12].
This pattern of relentless abductions and harassment is not merely a show of state power; it is a grotesque perversion of it. It reveals a regime so steeped in paranoia and ruthlessness that it targets innocent families to quell dissent and maintain its grip on power.
The abductions of Mashwani family members starkly illustrate the systemic challenges faced by political dissidents in the country. These disappearances were not isolated incidents nor coincidental, but rather expose a broader pattern of state-sponsored intimidation and repression. In a poignant interview last year, Azhar Mashwani described the absurdity of his ordeal, repeatedly questioning his captors: "I kept asking again and again," he recounted, "under which law are you keeping me? How can you keep me?" Twenty-four hours turned into forty-eight, then a week, and still, they had no answer—just more interrogation, more abuse.
Azhar Mashwani’s father wrote a heartfelt and urgent letter to Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, the Supreme Court, and judges of the Lahore High Court, expressing grave concerns over the enforced disappearances and the delayed actions by the High Court. In his letter, he highlighted the plight of his two sons, Professor Mazhar-ul-Hasan and Professor Zahoor-ul-Hasan. Despite the Supreme Court’s orders, these kidnappings persisted, and the High Court hearings were continually delayed. The letter also brought attention to the abduction of Azhar Mashwani and the subsequent threatening calls received by the family. He fervently requested that the Supreme Court intervene immediately and direct the High Courts to expedite the process of bringing those responsible for these abductions to justice, ensuring the safety and security of the affected families.
This regime thrives on chaos and lawlessness. They have no direction, no rationale for their actions—just a blind obsession with silencing dissent through brute force. Azhar's torment serves as a stark reminder of their arbitrary power. There was no charge, no semblance of justice—just the unchecked authority of those who see themselves above the law. The regime's playbook is as predictable as it is despicable: "If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail."
The arbitrary abduction of Azhar Mashwani and his innocent family members is nothing short of a grotesque display of power by a regime desperate to silence dissent. Do they honestly believe that snatching away elderly parents and siblings will somehow stifle criticism on social media? Will terrorizing families attract foreign investment? Will it somehow fix the economy or address the colossal issues plaguing the nation? Do they really think potential investors are impressed by their disregard for human rights and rule of law? Do they believe the world will turn a blind eye while they trample on basic freedoms and destroy lives? This isn't just short-sighted; it's sheer madness. The regime’s behavior is that of a drug addict with no job or prospects, lashing out at their own children instead of facing reality.
These brutal tactics don't silence dissent; they amplify it. Every abduction, every act of injustice further exposes the rot at the core of your regime. It's not strength; it's cowardice masked as authority. And it's leading the nation down a path of isolation and ruin. The world is watching, and history will condemn you for your heinous crimes against your own people. No amount of repression can hide the truth forever.
References
[2] Dawn. (2023, March 25). PTI’s digital media focal person missing: Qureshi. Dawn.
[6] ARY News. (2023, March 25). LHC serves notice to FIA in Azhar Mashwani missing case. ARY News.
[9] MM News. (2023, August 10). Azhar Mashwani’s brother returns home after 144 days. MM News.
[10] Bahaaristan. (2023, June 20). CTD officials abduct brothers of Azhar Mashwani. Bahaaristan.
[11] Dawn. (2023, May 30). Concerns as missing PTI activists’ families seek justice. Dawn.
[12] Dawn. (2023, June 10). PTI’s Azhar Mashwani recounts his abduction ordeal. Dawn.
