Arshad Malik, Deputy Editor of Daily Ausaf abducted by unidentified armed men in Multan, Punjab, while heading to office, after receiving threats linked to his reporting on TIMES Institute.

FOE Link or motive by PPF

Confirmed

Case Update Status

Malik was released on April 28, 2025, six days after his abduction

Summary of Case

On April 22, 2025, Arshad Malik, Deputy Editor of Daily Ausaf and District President of a child rights advocacy group, was abducted by unidentified armed men in Multan, Punjab, while on his way to the office. Malik’s family filed a written complaint the same evening at the Cantt Police Station, Multan, alleging that he had been receiving threats prior to his disappearance, reportedly related to his reporting on the TIMES Institute—a private educational institution accused of issuing fake degrees. According to Malik’s son, his father left for home at approximately 7:00 PM on April 22 and subsequently went missing. His phone was found switched off, and he remained unreachable for six days. The police did not register an FIR despite the family’s written request. During his disappearance, members of the Multan Union of Journalists (MUJ) and other journalist groups protested outside the Multan Press Club, demanding his recovery. Arshad Malik told Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) that he was forcibly taken by four masked and armed men in a white Corolla. They held him in a room with a green carpet, where he was mentally tortured and threatened with death. Malik said his abductors questioned him about his reporting on the TIMES Institute, referencing earlier warnings he had received. The captors also threatened to harm his family, specifically mentioning his daughter’s university schedule. After six days in captivity, on April 28, Malik was abandoned near a riverbank in Khanewal. He was forced to recite the Kalima at gunpoint and told to quit journalism and stop reporting against the institute. After the abductors left, Malik contacted Khanewal Police with the help of local residents and later returned home safely. Mehr Aziz, Resident Editor of Daily Ausaf in Multan, confirmed Malik’s safe return and suggested that his abduction was likely linked to his investigative reporting on the TIMES Institute. Aneela Ashraf, Chief Editor of Daily Lubazad and a governing member of the Multan Union of Journalists, told PPF that Malik had recently reported on the institute’s alleged involvement in issuing fake degrees, including claims that its director held a forged academic credential. Following these reports, Malik went missing, and although his family sought registration of an FIR, police failed to lodge a case. Aown Abbas, reporter for Ruhi and 24 News, told PPF that no significant progress had been made by police or the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) during Malik’s disappearance. Abbas confirmed that the FIA had earlier received a defamation complaint from the institute’s director, Warda Naseem, against Malik, and that students had previously protested against the institute for delays and denial of degrees. Anjum, a local journalist in Multan, said Malik had received five to six FIA notices under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) but had not responded before going missing. He claimed sources indicated FIA involvement in Malik’s disappearance, though the agency denied any role when questioned. Meanwhile, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Rana Muhammad Azeem and Secretary General Shakeel Ahmad strongly condemned Malik’s abduction, demanding accountability and urging authorities to ensure journalists’ safety. Arshad Malik was released on April 28, 2025, six days after his abduction. He attributes the incident to his reporting on corruption and fake degree scandals at the TIMES Institute. The case remains under police investigation, but no FIR has been registered, and no suspects have been arrested to date. Malik and his family continue to face security concerns.

Category of Incident

Abduction

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0202-Acts against liberty

ICCS Group: 02022-Deprivation of Liberty

ICCS Class: 020221-Kidnapping

ICCS Crime: Deprivation of liberty

Reported By

PPF Safety Monitors

Date of incident

22

Month

April

Year

2025

Name of affected person

Arshad Malik

Other affected persons

N/A

Name of affected organization

Daily Ausaf

Other affected organizations

N/A

Action by

TIMES Institute—a private educational institution

City

Multan

Province

Punjab

Designation

Deputy Editor

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

N/K

Marital Status

N/A

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: N/A

Date of compensation paid by government: N/A

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation announced by others: N/A

Date compensation paid by others: N/A

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: No

Court where case was presented: Case was not presented before any court

Name of prosecuting lawyer: N/A

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: N/A

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Rana Muhammad Azeem and Secretary General Shakeel Ahmad strongly condemned Malik’s abduction, demanding accountability and urging authorities to ensure journalists’ safety.

APNS

No version was recorded

CPNE

No version was recorded

PBA

No version was recorded

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Mehr Aziz, Resident Editor of Daily Ausaf in Multan, confirmed Malik’s safe return and suggested that his abduction was likely linked to his investigative reporting on the TIMES Institute.

Employer organization

N/A

Press Club Status

Press club 1: No version was recorded

Press club 2: No version was recorded

Press club 3: No version was recorded