Case Update Status

He returned home on April 15, 2024, after three days in militant captivity.

Summary of Case

On April 12, journalist Inamullah Mehsud, Bureau Chief of Nawaye Waqt and Daily Tahayat, was abducted from his home in Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, allegedly by members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The abduction was reportedly triggered by a social media post in which Inam referred to the TTP as "Kharji"—a term the group found offensive. After three days of illegal detention, Inam was released following a compromise brokered by the District Press Club. As part of the agreement, Inam agreed not to report against the TTP and to leave the area. Dawn suggested that the Upper South Waziristan District Press Club has issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the safe recovery of journalist Inamullah Mehsud, who was kidnapped two days ago. According to Malik Hayatullah Mehsud, the press club president, Inamullah was abducted from a sensitive area in Tank city, raising concerns about the security lapse and failure of law enforcement or intelligence agencies. The police have yet to register an FIR or make meaningful progress in the investigation, prompting the press club to announce a peaceful protest from the District Press Club to Tank Traffic Chowk. The protest was scheduled on April 15, aiming to pressure authorities to take action and ensure Inamullah's safe recovery. In a harrowing account shared with the PPF, journalist Inamullah Mehsud recounted his abduction by a group allegedly linked to the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP). On April 12, at midnight, a large group of armed men, dressed in traditional attire and some wearing masks, stormed into his home, firing shots outside. Asked his CNIC and upon recognizing Inam, they abducted him, covering his face with a cloth. Inam described being taken to multiple locations, including mosques, and subjected to physical and mental torture. His captors, who spoke an unidentified language, were unable to communicate with him and handed him over to another group after moving him from one place to another. The other group detained in an unknown place, demanded his family's contact information, and accused him of reporting against them, showing a screenshot of his post. Specifically, they cited his use of the term "Kharji" on social media, which they deemed derogatory. The abductors demanded a ransom of 1 crore rupees, later reduced to 30 lakhs, in exchange for Inam’s release. Although they forced him to share his mobile password, Inam refused to reveal his brother's contact number, fearing further harm. After two days, Mehsud was taken to a Taliban Jirga, where a compromise was brokered by members of the District Press Club, including President Hayat Mehsud, General Secretary Waseem Mehsud, Irshad Mehsud, and Inam’s cousin. The agreement stipulated that Inam would refrain from sharing information against the TTP and leave the area to ensure his safety. However, they seized Inam’s mobile phone Inam attributed his abduction solely to his use of the term "Kharji." He expressed gratitude to the PPF for their support and stated his intention to leave the area to protect his family and continue his journalism career, as the father of three daughters. Inam said he is using a duplicate SIM and has no evidence yet to show and provide after he recovers his cellphone from the abductors. According to Irshad Mehsud, Secretary of Finance at the District Press Club in South Waziristan and a correspondent for The Waziristan News, Inam was abducted after referring to the TTP as "Kharji" on social media. The group reportedly approached Inam’s brother and informed the Upper South Waziristan District Press Club, which then participated in a Taliban Jirga that led to Inam's release. As part of the compromise, Inam agreed not to share news against the TTP. However, Farooq Mehsud, President of the Mehsud Press Club, disputes the existence of the Upper South Waziristan District Press Club, stating, "I don't have any information about the Upper South Waziristan District Press Club, as there is only one press club, Mehsud Press Club." Meanwhile, the Tribal Union of Journalists president, Omer Deen Mehsud, condemned the incident and demanded early registration of an FIR and immediate steps for Inamullah's recovery, reported Dawn. https://www.dawn.com/news/1904245/protest-threatened-against-journalists-abduction

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

Dawn

Date of incident

12

Month

April

Year

2025

Name of affected person

Inamullah Mehsud

Other affected persons

N/A

Name of affected organization

Nawaye Waqt

Other affected organizations

Daily Tahayat

Action by

Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)

City

Tank

Province

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Designation

Bureau Chief

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

N/K

Marital Status

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: N/A

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

N/A

APNS

N/A

CPNE

N/A

PBA

N/A

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

N/A

Employer organization

N/A

Press Club Status

Press club 1: According to Irshad Mehsud, Secretary of Finance at the District Press Club in South Waziristan and a correspondent for The Waziristan News, Inam was abducted after referring to the TTP as "Kharji" on social media. The group reportedly approached Inam’s brother and informed the Upper South Waziristan District Press Club, which then participated in a Taliban Jirga that led to Inam's release. As part of the compromise, Inam agreed not to share news against the TTP.

Press club 2: However, Farooq Mehsud, President of the Mehsud Press Club, disputes the existence of the Upper South Waziristan District Press Club, stating, "I don't have any information about the Upper South Waziristan District Press Club, as there is only one press club, Mehsud Press Club."

Press club 3: Meanwhile, the Tribal Union of Journalists president, Omer Deen Mehsud, condemned the incident and demanded early registration of an FIR and immediate steps for Inamullah's recovery, reported Dawn. https://www.dawn.com/news/1904245/protest-threatened-against-journalists-abduction