(PPF/IFEX) – On 7 October 1997, Humayun Fur, bureau chief of the daily “Mashriq”, was released after the Chief of Army Staff pardoned him. The Chief of Army Staff accepted the request of Fur’s wife to pardon her husband on medical grounds. She said that, as Fur was suffering from hepatitis C and jaundice, there […]
(PPF/IFEX) – On 7 October 1997, Humayun Fur, bureau chief of the
daily “Mashriq”, was released after the Chief of Army Staff
pardoned him. The Chief of Army Staff accepted the request of
Fur’s wife to pardon her husband on medical grounds. She said
that, as Fur was suffering from hepatitis C and jaundice, there
was little chance of recovery if he was not released.
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 6 October, 10 September, 30, 15, 7
and 1 July 1997**
Background Information
Fur was abducted on 28 June and later charged with involvement in
anti-state activities. According to press reports, Fur and his
wife were standing outside their house in Islamabad on 28 June
when eight men, one of them in police uniform, forced Fur into a
car and drove away. Although local police expressed ignorance of
his whereabouts, on 30 June, Interior Minister Chaudry Shujaat
Hussain stated that Fur had been arrested for allegedly providing
classified documents to unspecified neighbouring countries. On 9
September, Fur was sentenced to five years in prison by a
military court (see IFEX alerts).
