Rashid Hussain's case is a sheer travesty of justice and an absolute disregard to international conventions.

A thread. #ReleaseRashidHussain

Rashid Hussain is an activist, who had to flee Pakistan to UAE due to persecution by state authorities. In UAE, on 26 Dec 2018 he and four of his friends were intercepted by two civilian cars on Dhaid road. They introduced themselves as members of UAE intelligence agencies.

They particularly asked for Rashid and took him away with themselves. Please note they did not show any arrest warrants etc. This was a copy cat operation of Pakistani intelligence agencies. May be "Pakistani consultants" are teaching UAE a thing or two.

Rashid's family lodged a report with local police and witnesses recorded their statements. The police knew nothing of Rashid's arrest/disappearance. However, two days later a handcuffed Rashid was brought to home with several intelligence/security personnel.

They conducted a thorough search to locate Rashid's passport. A tell tale sign that they wanted to deport Rashid from the outset. Anyway, they couldn't find Rashid's passport and they left after threatening the family members.

Please note at that point Pakistan had never wanted Rashid to be deported to Pakistan and there were no cases against Rashid whatsoever.

After the raid on Rashid's family home, his cousin received multiple calls from people who identified themselves as personnel of UAE intelligence agencies and they stressed upon handing over Rashid's passport to them.

In January 2019, Rashid's cousin hired a lawyer and the lawyer found out there were no cases against Rashid but he was under custody of intelligence agencies and all they wanted was his passport.

Through out this time Rashid remained missing with no trace. His basic rights were violated and he was not allowed to meet/communicate with his family or hire a lawyer.

Between Dec 2018 and July 2019 there were several tweets/news articles by pro-Pakistan Army entities which suggested Rashid was arrested in UAE on Pakistan's behest but nothing came out on official levels.

Famous Pakistani journalist Shahzeb Khanzada also confirmed in his show that Rashid Hussain has been arrested in UAE and is believed to be involved in Chinese consulate attack, a total trumped up charge.

On July 3, the Pakistani media broadcasted the news three times that Rashid Hussain has been arrested through Interpol and extradited to Pakistan. Initially this seemed to be another hoax/propaganda.

Rashid's family approached UAE immigration authorities, who then confirmed through an exit certificate that Rashid was in fact deported on 22 June from Al-Batin airport in Abu Dhabi to Noshki, Balochistan.

This indicates Rashid was deported on a chartered jet as Al-Bateen airport’s main tenants include companies that operate private jet services. The airport is also host to aviation assets of UAE government including UAE Naval Aviation and Abu Dhabi Police Department air wing.

More interesting is the destination city of Noshki as it does not even have an airport, the nearest airport is in another city Dalbandin, which is under complete military control and no civilian flights operate from the facility.

The deportation itself was totally illegal and unjust as Rashid was provided no venue in UAE to prove his innocence.

He has not been produced before Pakistani courts ever since his deportation. In fact on April 16, 2020 a special anti-terrorism court of Pakistan declared Rashid Hussain a fugitive for the ‘attack on the Chinese consulate’ in Karachi in November 2018.

Since Rashid's "disappearance", his mother Baaz Khatoon has continuously been campaigning. She has been to several courts of law but to no avail.

Not producing Rashid before the courts of law raises concerns that he will meet the same fate as 1000s of Baloch missing persons who have been illegally killed under custody.

Pakistan has been victimising Baloch political activists for decades and Rashid's treatment in Pakistan doesn't come as surprise but the role of UAE is highly disappointing.

UAE is considered a second home by many Baloch but looks like the UAE authorities have succumbed to the designs of retired Pakistani Army generals who are providing UAE's military and secretive agencies consultancy services.

But as they say: "the Baloch reciprocate for a single bowl of water through hundred years of loyalty, but they never forget to avenge their lost loved ones."