Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Pashtoon Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) vibrant activist Dr Hayat Pargal was abducted by the masked men at 11 pm on late Thursday from Dera Ismail (DI) Khan.

Reportedly, his brother Nasir Khan said that Pargal informed him that 12 to 15 men, along with a lady police officer, and trespassed his residence and abducted him.

He added that a few men were in uniform while the others were dressed in plain clothes, but covering their face with black masks.

While talking to Daily Times, Khan further said that other family members were held hostage for about an hour.

Pargal graduated in Pharmacy from Gomal University and came to Pakistan from UAE about one month ago.

Meanwhile, at 5:37 am on Friday, a tweet from his official wall read “I am safe, I am being treated quite well, no need to worry”.

However, his family members revealed that his laptop and mobile was also taken away by the abductors, and he did not contact them.

Two days ago, a post from his wall went viral on the social media reading that militants moving free in the valley while the PTM caps are banned.

His friends believe that his fearless activism during the recent past led to his abduction.

His family further said that the area police have refused to lodge an FIR, but only filed an application.

Published in Daily Times, July 7^th 2018.