Missing Pakistani peace activist returns home after seven months

A Pakistani peace activist campaigning for better Indo-Pak ties has safely returned home, seven months after he mysteriously went missing, according to media reports today.

Raza Mahmood Khan, a convener of Aghaz-i-Dosti -- a friendship initiative between Indian and Pakistani youths -- was allegedly picked up on December 2, from his Model Colony residence in Lahore by some men in plain clothes.

The police are, however, tight-lipped about where the 40-year-old social activist was found, the Dawn News reported.

Following Khan's 'enforced disappearance', human rights activists, friends and family had been agitating for his release, condemning attempts to silence and harass those speaking up for peace and human rights, the report said.

Quoting Mohammad Imran, Superintendent of Police, Investigation, Model Town, the report said the Punjab police had recovered Khan 10 days ago.

Raza is in good health, the police official said.

He is not making a statement due to "security concerns", The News quoted the police officer as saying.

Enforced disappearances are common in Pakistan.

According to a recent Express Tribune report, a total of 4,608 cases of enforced disappearances have come to light from 2011 till December 2017 in the country.

The report further suggested that approximately 2,257 cases had been resolved after the whereabouts of those reported missing had been traced.