Prominent human rights activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir returned home on Friday almost 24 hours after being “abducted by unidentified men”, his family confirmed.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) South Syed Asad Raza told media that the activist had reached home safely. He said that the police team would meet Nasir to record his statement.

Taking to Twitter, Nasir said he had returned home safely due to the efforts of journalists, lawyers, bar councils, civil society and politicians.

Jibran was "picked up" last night in the southern city of Karachi. No law enforcement agency had confirmed his custody.

On Thursday, Nasir's wife Mansha Pasha posted a video on social media, saying the two were driving home when they were intercepted by a white pickup truck and a sedan.

"After that, at least 15, probably more men in civilian clothing came and told Jibran to get out of the car," Pasha, a well-known actor, said, adding that all the men were armed, some with automatic weapons.

"They gave no explanation as to why Nasir was being taken."

Pasha said that she had tried filing a case with the police, but they were reluctant to register it officially.

Nasir, who contested the 2018 elections as an independent candidate, has been an outspoken critic of multiple human rights violations in the country and represented victims as a lawyer in a number of prominent cases.

Lately, he had criticised the mass arrests of leaders from former prime minister Imran Khan's party and the move to try them in military courts following violent protests earlier this month.

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Reaction

The civil society and human rights organisations reacted strongly to his "unjust abduction". They also staged a protest outside the Karachi Press Club at 4pm on Friday.

“It is time to demand his immediate release and ensure that justice prevails,” the organisations said in a statement and urged people to participate in the protest.

Amnesty International condemned the abduction and cited that "it is yet another case that the country has seen in recent weeks in the wake of authorities cracking down on critical voices following violent clashes during Imran's arrest."

Authorities must expeditiously and impartially investigate and determine his whereabouts, it demanded.

If in state custody, Jibran must either be released immediately or if there is sufficient evidence, produce him in a civilian court, and charge him with an internationally recognizable offence, Amnesty International said.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan demanded that Jibran "be safely recovered immediately and his abductors held accountable under the law."

Former administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab said an FIR has been registered and efforts are being made to trace his whereabouts.

PTI leader Farrukh Habib said the situation was "absolutely condemnable".

A tweet from PTI's official account echoed similar views and called for Jibran's immediate release.

In a statement , Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah raised concerns over Nasir’s “disappearance” and sought a report from the police chief. He also directed the police to expedite efforts to recover the lawyer.