Concerns are growing in Pakistan over the mysterious disappearance of former parliamentarian and human rights advocate Mushtaq Ahmad Khan. According to statements released by the rights group Pakistan Right Movements (PRM), Khan was intercepted by Punjab Police officers on July 28 while returning from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The advocacy group alleges that authorities took him into custody without presenting any formal warrant or initiating legal documentation, leaving his supporters and family without any official information regarding his health or present location.
Interception at Kahuta Market and Police Action
The sequence of events leading to his disappearance unfolded on the evening of July 28. Reports provided by PRM indicate that a police team halted Khan's convoy near Kahuta Market at approximately 7:07 PM. During the encounter, DSP Waqar of the Kahuta Circle allegedly ordered the original driver of Khan's vehicle to step aside. The senior police official then personally took the wheel and drove away with the former lawmaker inside the same automobile. While other vehicles travelling within the convoy were briefly detained by law enforcement personnel at the site, they were subsequently permitted to continue their journey.
Peace Rally to PoK and Entry Denial
Prior to his abduction, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan had spearheaded a peaceful solidarity march alongside several associates towards PoK. The delegation carried white flags as a symbolic gesture intended to express support for local families affected by recent violent incidents in the region. However, their march was halted at the Azad Pattan Bridge, where security forces denied them entry into PoK territory. Following the refusal, Khan formally lodged a protest against the administrative restriction and decided to turn back, initiating his return journey towards Islamabad before being targeted in Kahuta.
Digital Traces and Official Silence
Following the abrupt loss of direct communication, members of his team requested Khan to broadcast his live geographical coordinates via WhatsApp. The shared digital location indicated that his vehicle had reached the Rawat Police Station situated along GT Road. Upon arriving at the station premises, PRM representatives were refused permission by police personnel to meet or speak with him. The final communication received from Khan occurred at 12:26 AM on July 29, during which he informed his team that police officers claimed senior officials from Rawalpindi wished to conduct a meeting with him. Since that brief message, state authorities in Pakistan have maintained complete public silence, offering no official clarification on whether he is under formal arrest, where he is currently detained, or if any legal charges have been filed against him.
