Zeenat Shahzadi, a Pakistani journalist was rescued after being kidnapped two years ago. The investigative journalist was working on a case of an Indian engineer who was arrested for illegally entering Pakistan in 2012.
Zeenat Shahzadi is a 26 year old reporter for Metro News TV channel and Daily Nai Khaber. She went missing on 19th August, 2015 while traveling to work in an auto rickshaw near Lahore.
Shahzadi was abducted for investigating the case of Indian citizen, Hamid Ansari who went missing in November 2012.
Retired President Justice, Javed Iqbal from the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CIED) explained on Friday evening, Zeenat was rescued from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Thursday night.
Iqbal reported, “Non state actors and anti state agencies had abducted her and she has been rescued from their custody.” The official gave credit to the tribals from Balochistan who played a key role in her rescue.
Rights activist, Beena Sarwar said, “Zeenat Shahzadi on Friday was reunited with her family in Lahore and we are happy for her safe recovery. I am thrilled that she is home safe.”
Unfortunately, after Zeenat went missing, her younger brother Saddam could not handle the loss and committed suicide in March last year.
When Zeenat went missing her elder brother Salman Latif said, “Helping an Indian prisoner, Hamid Ansari in Pakistan has cost us dearly. My sister is missing and my younger brother who was deeply attached to her hanged himself after losing hope to get reunited with her. My sister has not committed any crime in helping an Indian national.”
The brother was quoted saying, “Zeenat received threats from unknown persons who asked her not to pursue the case anymore. We also asked her not to put her life at risk but she said she wanted to help Ansari out of humanity. When she spoke to Ansari’s mother she literally cried along with her and vowed to help.”
Zeenat fought hard to free Hamid Ansari who was arrested for entering into Pakistan illegally. Ansari sunk into the country in the hopes of meeting a girl with whom he connected online.
Although, Ansari was sentenced to three years imprisonment he has still not been released. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, I.A. Rehman asked the government to release Ansari since he finished serving his sentence.
