Lawyer Jibran Nasir has returned home, Karachi police confirmed to Aaj News on Friday. The social activist returned almost 24 hours after being “picked up by 15 armed men” on Thursday.

“Getting disappeared in Pakistan is nothing new and not an unusual thing,” he told reporters after getting free.

He thanked all those who made efforts for his return. “I am with my family and I thank all of them and definitely, I had a determination, I had some struggle that all these considered that raise voice for my recovery.”

The social activist added that he would continue his struggle and work with determination.

SSP South Asad Raza confirmed that the lawyer has returned home and the SHO would meet him in a while. While Nasir’s cousin Talha Rehman also confirmed it and added that the lawyer was with his family now.

Earlier in the day, dozens of activists held a protest demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club Friday afternoon demanding the release of lawyer and rights defender Jibran Nasir, who was picked up by unidentified men last night.

A first information report was registered in the Clifton Police Station against the abduction of Nasir only after Nasir’s wife Mansha Pasha complained that the police were not accepting her application.

The case was registered on the complaint ofMansha Pasha, under section 365 of kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person. Earlier, she claimed that the police had “refused to register a case” regarding the “illegal abduction” of her husband.

“The police were adopting delaying tactics, they also visited our house yesterday and said that we will give you the paper to receive the application, but without giving it, they left,” the actor told BBC Urdu.

Sindh CM’s adviser Murtaza Wahab later shared a copy of the FIR and said that efforts were being made to trace his whereabouts and ensure his safe return.

Activists gathered at the Karachi Press Club Friday afternoon to stage a protest against Jibran’s abduction. They carried placards.

The protest was organised by a joint action committee comprising civil society organizations. Aurat March Karachi also supported the protest.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed grave concern over reports of the alleged abduction of Jibran Nasir and demanded his safe recovery.

On Thursday night, Pasha provided an account of her husband’s kidnapping as the couple returned to their home in their car after dinner.

“We were returning home after dinner, a big vehicle white Vigo. It intercepted our car and almost crashed it. There were at least 15 armed people. They forcefully took away my husband,” Mansha said in a video message.

She requested everyone to raise a voice and pray that her husband returns home soon. Soon after the news broke out, #ReleaseJibranNasir was among the top trends on Twitter.

Nasir contested the 2018 general elections from Karachi as an independent candidate. He has been vocal in his criticism of the recent state crackdown on the PTI and as well as the legal process involving those who allegedly took part in the riots.

Though it was not clear why he was “picked up”, his last tweet was on Islamabad.

Who is Jibran Nasir?

Jibran Nasir is a prominent Pakistani rights activist and lawyer known for his critical views on human rights violations in the country.

Born on 10 February 1987 in Karachi, Jibran completed his O-Levels at Saint Michael’s Convent School and A-Levels at The Lyceum School. He pursued a law degree from the University of London International Programme for a Bachelor of Law. Later, he obtained an LLM in International Commercial Law from the University of Northumbria, UK.

Nasir has been a vocal advocate for the protection of minorities and has frequently criticized state policies concerning banned organizations in Pakistan.

Aside from his legal career, Nasir is a trustee at Elaj Trust and actively participates in relief work through the organization. He is also the founder of the NGO Never Forget Pakistan and engages in advocacy for marginalized communities through Pakistan For All.

In January 2015, Nasir played a pivotal role in organizing the “Reclaim Pakistan” movement against violent extremism, leading demonstrations with placards and candles.

He has been at the forefront of protests against terrorism in Pakistan and was arrested in February 2015 for staging a protest near the Chief Minister’s residence alongside other civil society activists.

In addition to his humanitarian endeavors, Nasir ventured into politics in 2013 when he ran as an independent candidate for the National Assembly of Pakistan from the NA-250 constituency and for the Provincial Assembly of Sindh from the PS-113 constituency.

During the elections, he secured votes for the National Assembly seat, competing against Arif Alvi, who is now the President of Pakistan. However, he lost the Sindh Assembly seat to Samar Ali Khan.

In June 2018, Nasir announced his candidacy as an independent candidate for the 2018 Pakistani general election, running for the NA-247 constituency for the National Assembly seat and the PS-111 constituency for the Provincial Assembly seat.

Unfortunately, Nasir faced defeat in both elections, losing by significant margins for both the national and provincial assembly seats.