When a journalist goes missing in Malaysia
Syed Fawad Ali Shah
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That was the last I heard from him. He had sent me a text about 7am on Aug 23 with a link to his latest article on the refugee crisis in Malaysia.
The article was on delays in resettling refugees in Malaysia to other countries. It appeared in Newsman, a Pakistani newspaper that writes on human rights issue.
I first met Fawad in 2019. During the interview, he told me about his fears of being monitored by the Pakistani intelligence over his frequent commentaries against Pakistani corrupt leaders.
Fawad, 41, came to Malaysia 11 years ago through Thailand and managed to get into Penang after a few weeks in the neighbouring country.
Happy to be alive, he said: "the first thing I did was kiss the land of Penang. I was alive. I made it. Shukriya (thank you in Hindi)" .
He then applied for UNHCR card which was given to him after undergoing almost 20 interviews, he told me.
"It is not easy to get a card for they wanted to make sure I was not faking my story."
His nightmare in Pakistan began after he wrote on missing persons in his home country. "I saw a pattern. Some of the officers would go missing. Just like that. It couldn't have been a coincidence. I started investigating."
Fawad shared his experience with some of the authorities in Pakistan. "They told me if I want to live, stop writing. I shivered hearing such words. Their eyes were so cold. I instantly knew my life was in danger."
He knew he had to escape.
"I opened the atlas and saw Malaysia. In the next few hours, I read about the country as much as I could and instantly liked it. It is a peaceful place where all races live in harmony. That is what I want, peace and harmony," he had told me in 2019.
However, with his disappearance since Aug 23 would Fawad feel the same about peace and harmony in Malaysia?
There are so many unanswered questions as to his whereabouts and if he was detained by the immigration department? Why was he detained? What was his crime?
Did our immigration department work hand-in-hand to deport Fawad back to Pakistan without informing anyone?
How can a man just go missing in Malaysia? I am still waiiting for a reply from the immigration director-general to shed some light over Fawad's disapparence.
His wife Syeda is crying, asking "where is my husband? I am depressed. I want to know where is my husband." She further told me that she had an online nikah with him as he was in Kuala Lumpur and she in Pakistan.
After 13 months of marriage she met him physically for the first time in February 2021 in Langkawi. After a 17-day honeymoon at the island, she went home.
Their long distance relationship grew stronger as they often spoke online until August when he suddenly stopped answering her calls.
Since then her life has been topsy turvy wondering the whereabouts of her husband.
She claimed to have been told by the Malaysian authorities that Fawad was deported to Pakistan. However, no one has produced evidence of his deportation.
I met Fawad several times after my first interview with him. He would call me Didi (sister in Hindi) and would insist on giving me chocolates.
He would say "Didi, I just want everyone to be happy. Perhaps because I know how difficult life is and I don't want anyone to go through the same."
He was also looking forward to finally resettle to another country and start a new life with his wife.
