Afrasiab Khattak, a former Pakistani senator, has called for attention to the plight of Gulalai Ismail, a human rights activist from Pakistan, who is accused of inciting rebellion. And now she is on the run.

Ms. Ismail is one of Pakistan’s well-known women’s rights crusaders, speaking out about forced marriages, gang rapes and crushed dreams.

Recently, she has become an enemy of the state, accused of inciting rebellion.

In a letter to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman Committee on Human Rights of the National Assembly of Pakistan and Senator Mustafa Nawaz Kokhar, Chairman Committee on Human Rights of the Senate of Pakistan, Khattak calls for attention to the plight of Ms. Ismail and her family, “who have fallen victim to the fascist repressive actions of the present government in Pakistan”.

Gulalai Ismail has been recognized, nationally as well as internationally, for her contribution in creating awareness among girls about their rights, Khattak says in his letter.

She also provided moral support to the peaceful political struggle and demands of the Pashtun population in the western districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Khattak says.

He says that Ms. Ismail faced arrest, confiscation of her passport and a continuous campaign of harassment by Pakistan’s security agencies.

He says that Ms. Ismail’s house is under surveillance twenty four hours a day and they are followed by personnel of intelligence agencies when they go out of their home.

Khattak calls on the Pakistani Senate’s Human Rights Committee to take notice of the misuse of anti-terror laws, unconstitutional and illegal harassment campaign and blatant violation of human rights of Ms. Ismail and her family.