Pakistani Anti-Drone Activist Abducted Days Before European Testimony

A prominent Pakistani journalist and anti-drone activist has disappeared under suspicious circumstances, just days before he was scheduled to present testimony to European parliamentarians. Kareem Khan was reportedly abducted from his home in Rawalpindi by approximately two dozen men, some of whom were allegedly in police uniforms.

Khan's lawyer, Shahzad Akbar, confirmed the incident, stating that the abduction occurred shortly before Khan was due to travel to Europe. His intended audience included lawmakers from Germany, the Netherlands, and Britain, where he planned to discuss his personal experiences and the broader impact of drone strikes.

Khan, a native of the North Waziristan tribal region, gained prominence as the first Pakistani to file a lawsuit against the U.S. government concerning drone attacks. These strikes, part of the U.S.'s counter-terrorism operations, resulted in the deaths of his brother and son in December 2009. Khan maintains his innocence, denying allegations that he housed a Taliban leader targeted in the same strike.

Following Khan's disappearance, his family has received no information regarding his whereabouts or the reasons for his detention. Akbar expressed deep concern, noting that local police have denied any involvement in Khan's apprehension. "It seems to be work of the intelligence agencies," Akbar stated, pointing to the lack of official acknowledgment and the suspicious nature of the abduction.

Human rights organizations have voiced grave concerns over Khan's safety. Clare Algar, executive director of the UK-based legal charity Reprieve, issued an urgent appeal for Khan's release. "He is a crucial witness to the dangers of the CIA’s covert drone program, and has simply sought justice for the death of his son and brother through peaceful, legal routes," Algar said. "Reports that he was detained by men in police uniforms are of great concern, and we urge the Government of Pakistan to do everything in its power to secure his immediate release."

Khan's legal battle began in 2010, challenging the legality and morality of drone strikes, which he argued resulted in civilian casualties and violated international law by circumventing established prohibitions against extrajudicial killings. The strike that claimed his relatives also killed a local construction worker.

The U.S. government, through intelligence officials, had previously suggested Khan might have harbored Haji Omar Khan, a figure associated with the Taliban who was killed in the same 2009 drone attack. Khan has consistently refuted this claim.

Akbar and other activists have been vocal critics of the U.S. drone program. In a notable act of defiance last year, they publicly named the CIA station chief in Islamabad, accusing him and then-CIA Director John Brennan of murder for their alleged roles in a specific drone strike.

Estimates suggest that thousands of Pakistanis have perished in drone attacks since 2008, with the precise number of civilian versus militant casualties remaining a contentious and opaque issue.