Wife of deported Pakistani journalist wants hubby produced in court

The wife of Pakistani investigative journalist Syed Fawad Ali Shah who was deported to his home country has filed a habeas corpus application on behalf of her husband at the Kuala Lumpur High Court last Friday.

According to her lawyer S Kartigesan, the woman only known as Syeda, also wanted the court to declare that the police and Immigration Department acted wrongly and violated the law in deporting the journalist last August.

"She applied for a habeas corpus to direct the Malaysian government to produce Syed Fawad in court within 24 hours of being ordered to do so.

"She also requested a habeas corpus directing the Pakistani government to return Syed Fawad to this court within 48 hours of being ordered to do so.

"Syeda wanted a court declaration that the Malaysian government, among others, had acted wrongfully and in violation of the law in deporting Syed Fawad to Pakistan, thereby committing the tort of misfeasance in public office," he told a press conference today.

Kartigesan said the suit is primarily on the basis of a breach of an international obligation by Malaysia as the country Syed Fawad was given asylum and Pakistan as his country of origin.

"The contention of the suit will be on the breach of various fundamental rights primarily on the right to life and liberty as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance," he added.

The suit was filed on Syeda’s instruction on behalf of her husband, who is also the second plaintiff.

They named the Malaysian government, former home minister Hamzah Zainudin, Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud, Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as defendants.

The government of Pakistan and United Nations Commission for Refugees representative Thomas Albrecht were also named as defendants.

Syeda’s lawyers Kartigesan and R Kengadharan also confirmed that she is back in Pakistan.

Syed Fawad, who spent a decade in exile in Malaysia, was deported to Pakistan in August.

Last month, Syeda pleaded for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's help to locate her husband who has been missing since Aug 23, last year.

Syed Fawad is reportedly known for probing government corruption and missing persons via several English dailies in his home country.

The 41-year-old has been living in exile for over 10 years to escape persecution in Pakistan and is said to be a UNHCR card holder.

Earlier this month, Saifuddin confirmed that Syed Fawad was deported to Pakistan last August upon the Pakistani government's request.

Wife of deported Pakistani journalist seeks visa extension

Minister confirms missing journo deported to Pakistan

‘Please help find my husband’ – wife of missing Pakistani journo pleads with PM

Pakistani journalist critical of army released after abduction