*ISLAMABAD – The dramatic story type abduction and release after an hour ofjournalist Gul Bukhari, immediately followed by the reaction from MaryamNawaz, Geo TV Anchors, international media campaign against military andthe local anti state social media activation leaves the drama exposed.*
* The columnist and rights activist Gul Bukhari was reportedly abducted andfreed early on Wednesday, two hours after being abducted she was released,her family and colleagues said.*
Gul Bukhari, who is a dual Pakistani-British national, has been anunusually vocal critic on social media in the run-up to the July 25 generalelection. She has also defended Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) partyfounder Nawaz Sharif.
Bukhari was on her way to record a TV program on Tuesday evening on thelate-night Waqt news show when her vehicle was intercepted in the Lahorecantonment and she was taken away, her husband and two media colleaguessaid.
“She is back and she is fine” Ali Nadir, Bukhari’s husband, told *Reuters*.He declined to comment further.
Earlier, Muhammad Gulsher, who is a producer on the *Waqt* news programwhere Bukhari appears as a guest, raised alarm about her abduction.
He told *Reuters* that Bukhari had been abducted when a group of pick-uptrucks stopped her vehicle and men in plainclothes dragged her way.
“They put a black mask on her face and took her,” he said.
Bukhari’s abduction drew widespread outrage on social media, becoming themain trending topic on Twitter in Pakistan. Many activists called it partof efforts to stifle dissent.
“If true, this would be a most audacious attempt to silence a known critic.Is this Pakistan or Kim’s North Korea or Sisi’s Egypt?” tweeted Syed TalatHussain, a prominent journalist.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the daughter of PML-N founder Nawaz Sharif, called theabduction “disturbing.”
“This is just cruel & worst kind of oppression. Sad day.#BringBackGulBukhari,” she tweeted earlier in the evening.
Rights groups have denounced the kidnappings of several social mediaactivists over the past year as attempts to intimidate and silence critics.
Last year, five Pakistani bloggers went missing for several weeks beforefour of them were released. All four fled abroad and at least twoafterwards told media that they were tortured during their disappearance.
In the run-up to the polls, media houses have complained of growingcensorship.
In the past six months, Bukhari, who has 69,000 Twitter followers, haspenned several critical articles for *The Nation* newspaper. *Reuters*