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Â鶹ԼÅÄ calls on Pakistan government for urgent help to locate missing journalist
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The Â鶹ԼÅÄ today expressed "serious concern" over the sudden disappearance of one of
its reporters, Dilawar Khan Wazir, in Pakistan and called on the Pakistan government
to help locate the missing journalist.
Ìý
Mr Khan, a Pakistani journalist who has been reporting for the Â鶹ԼÅÄ
fromÌýSouthÌýWaziristan,Ìýwent missing from IslamabadÌýon MondayÌýunder what the Â鶹ԼÅÄ
described asÌý"suspicious circumstances".
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The Â鶹ԼÅÄ spokesperson said the organisation was seriouslyÌýconcerned about the
whereabouts ofÌýits reporter.
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He confirmed that the Â鶹ԼÅÄ World Service Director Nigel
Chapman had written formally to the Pakistan Interior Ministry to requestÌýurgent
help in tracing Dilawar Khan Wazir.
Ìý
Nigel Chapman wrote: "I amÌýseriouslyÌýconcerned about the whereabouts of our
reporter and would request your kind help in tracing him at theÌýearliest.ÌýI would
be very grateful for yourÌýsupport in this matter."
Ìý
Dilawar was in the federal capital to visit his younger brother Zulfiqar Ali who is
a student at the Islamic University.
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He was on his way back toÌýhis hometownÌýDera
Ismail Khan after seeing his brother. His family has not heard from him since then.
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Accoring to Zulfiqar,Ìýsome plain clothes men came to theÌýhostel (of the
IslamicÌýUniversity) andÌýtoldÌýhis friends that Dilawar had met an accident and
insisted that Zulfiqar should come with them to the hospital.Ìý
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Dilawar's brother got
suspicious and did not accompany them.
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When Zulfiqar called on Dilawar's mobile phone, the call was receivedÌýby someone
who identified himself as Dr Jamshed.
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He reportedly asked Zulfiqar to rush to the
Pakistan Institute of Medical SciencesÌý(PIMS): "Your brother met an accidentÌýnear
Peer WadhaiÌýand is seriously injured."
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When theÌýÂ鶹ԼÅÄ checked with PIMS, the local police and other offices in the
capitalÌýthere wasÌýno confirmation of any accident involving Dilawar Khan
Wazir.Ìý
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When the Â鶹ԼÅÄ's Islamabad correspondentÌývisited the hospital in question
there was no trace of Dilawar and no member of the staff by the name of Dr Jamshed.
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A Â鶹ԼÅÄ spokespersonÌýsaid:Ìý"We are concerned for the safety of Dilawar Khan Wazir. We
are investigating this matter with some urgency and are in touch with Pakistani
authorities. We expectÌýthemÌýto do their utmost in helping us trace our reporter."
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Â鶹ԼÅÄ World Service Press Office
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