Karachi-based social media activist and journalist Arsalan Khan, who went missing at 4am on Friday, returned back home “safe and sound” in the wee hours of the Saturday, Rangers and the activist said.

“The case is being handed over to the authority concerned after a thorough investigation into the white-collar crime,” the Sindh Rangers spokesperson said in a statement. In the initial investigation it was revealed that the suspect had contact with a terrorist group and seeking financial assistance, it alleged.

Rangers have freed the missing social media activist after a warning that the latter must cooperate with the former in the future investigation.

The statement was shared on social media.

Khan also shared the development in a tweet.

“I’m back home safe & sound. Thank you everyone for all the help & support you people extended to my lone family in this testing time. I’m truly short of words. Love you all,” Khan said.

Journalist Hamid Mir, who had raised his voice over the alleged abduction, welcome the activity back and reminded him about the people “picked up” between 2001 and 2022.

Gone missing

A Karachi-based social media activist and journalist Arsalan Khan went missing at 4am on Friday from the Clifton area. His friends had accused law enforcement agencies of the alleged abduction.

Arsalan Khan is a resident of Clifton area. He worked for various media platforms including Geo News. He is active on Twitter with a handle AK-47 and is associated with Karachi Bachao Tehreek- a campaign to end the demolition of Karachi’s working class settlements and markets.

The police have not come across any clue. The senior Superintendent of South Police Asad Raza refused any connection with alleged abduction. While no report was lodged by Khan’s family yet.

Amnesty International, a South African organisation that works to end human rights abuses, expressing their concern about his disappearance tweeted.

“We are deeply concerned about the abduction of journalist Arsalan Khan from his home in Karachi today at 4am. Pakistan must end this abhorrent practice of punishing dissent by wrenching people away from their loved ones,” the statement said.

Senior journalist Hamid Mir had also spoken about his disappearance. In a tweet, he condemned the matter asking if Arsalan Khan had started any trend against any state institution?

An activist, Ammar Ali said that a “new round of repression has begun against the Muhajirs’’.

Meanwhile, Karachi Bachao Tehreek (KBT) announced a protest on Friday evening.