The US Assistant Secretary of State Alice G. Wells expressed worry over the news of the alleged abduction of Gulalai Ismail’s father The US State Dept released a statement on Twitter, saying they were concerned by reports of continued harassment.
We are concerned by reports of the continued harassment of Gulalai Ismail’s family, and her father’s detention today. We encourage Pakistan to uphold citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly, expression, and due process. AGW
— State_SCA (@State_SCA) October 24, 2019
Gulalai had shared the news of her father’s detention on Thursday, in which she criticised mainstream Pakistani media for remaining silent on her father’s alleged abduction from outside of the Peshawar High Court.
Around 19 hours ago my father was abducted from the premises of Peshawar High court,but there's a pin drop silence on mainstream Pakistani media. I've run out of words to condemn the criminal silence of media; it has become an ally of military in imposing unannounced martial law.
— Gulalai Ismail ګلالۍاسماعیل (@Gulalai_Ismail) October 25, 2019
According to Ismail, her father had been picked up from outside the Peshawar High Court by “men wearing Malitia dress”. Gulalai escaped Pakistani authorities in August by reaching the USA, where she had applied for political asylum. Read more from ProperGaanda: Man Convicted For Selling ‘Ice’ Drug To Students In Karachi