Pakistani authorities detain rights activist, journalist
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pakistani authorities have detained a rights activist who led a protest and a journalist who allegedly criticized state agencies on traditional and social media.
Police officer Abdur Rauf says Dr. Ammar Ali Jan, a college professor, was arrested early Saturday after he led a protest by the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement. The organization campaigns against perceived high-handedness by security forces against the Pashtun community. Last week, a PTM activist died in a clash with police in the town of Loralai during a sit-in.
Amnesty International condemned Jan's arrest, saying Pakistan must stop using heavy-handed methods to intimidate peaceful protesters.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Meanwhile, unidentified armed men picked up journalist Raziur Rehman Razi from his Lahore residence. Arshad Ansari, president of Lahore Press Club, condemned the incident and demanded Razi's safe return.