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ISLAMABAD, June 1 (AP) – Several prominent British public figures are urging Pakistan to release the brother of a human rights lawyer who served as an adviser to ousted former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Former British cabinet ministers, senior legal officials, prominent journalists and legal rights groups made the appeal on Wednesday night.
Murad Akbar, brother of lawyer Shahzad Akbar, was arrested this week.
The lawyer, who is currently not in Pakistan, tweeted a few days ago that his brother had been taken away by security forces who searched his home. Pakistani authorities have neither confirmed nor denied that Murad Akbar is in their custody.
“We call on the Pakistani authorities to immediately release Murad Akbar, who we believe is arbitrarily detained and at risk of torture, disappearance and death,” the joint statement from the UK said.
They said Murad Akbar had not been charged with any crime and “was a very vulnerable individual who was placed in the care of his family after experiencing mental health problems for which he received psychiatric admissions.” treat.”
His brother, Shahzad Akbar, is a prominent human rights defender who served as the former cricket star-turned Islamist politician before parliament passed a no-confidence vote in April last year. Khan’s advisor.
Khan himself was detained this month, sparking violent protests. Since then, police have detained thousands of people on suspicion of involvement in the violence, but it is not clear on what charges the lawyer’s brother is being held. (Associated Press)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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