Khattak`s disappearance.

MNESTY International has called for the immediate release of Idris Khattak. The appeal has been made possible after a top Pakistani intelligence agency finally acknowledged that it was holding the rights campaigner, who went missing seven months ago, on charges of breaching the century-old Official Secrets Act.

AI sent a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan dated June 18, which calls for urgent action including disclosure of the whereabouts of Mr Khattak to his family. The international rights group emphasised the need for allowing a civilian court to rule on the lawfulness of the case. It has added its voice to the reasonable demand for a fair trial, though there seem to be no grounds for detaining Mr Khattak in the first place. The agony that Mr Khattak`s disappearance caused has been captured to only a limited extent by the search carried out by his family led by his 20-year-old daughter. They must have heaved a sigh of relief at the news that he is being held by a secret agency, in contrast to the gloomier scenarios discussed about his fate.

The next task his family and lawyers...