Ahmad Waqass Goraya

Ahmad Waqass Goraya is a Pakistani-born activist and blogger based in the Netherlands. He is among several Pakistani bloggers and authors overseas who are critics of the Pakistan Army who have been persecuted, tortured Gul Bukhari, and others.

Abduction, blasphemy charge and torture

In January 2017 Goraya became victim of enforced disappearance along with five other bloggers and were released after several weeks. He was abducted from Lahore on January 4, 2017. where has been living since 2007.

In March 2017 he was accused of blasphemy by Salman Shahid, associated with Islamabad's Red Mosque. The blasphemy charge was proven false.

Attack and murder attempt in Netherlands

Goraya and his family have been threatened multiple times to silence him. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Amnesty International has condemned threatening families to silence activists, especially Goraya.

In February 2020, Goraya was attacked and threatened by two men outside his home in Rotterdam

In February 2021, Goraya was moved out of his residence by Dutch Police citing threats to his life.

In June 2021 a British-Pakistani Muhammad Gohir Khan was charged by Crown Prosecution Service with one count conspiracy to murder of Ahmad Waqass Goraya and found guilty in January 2022 Muhammad Gohir Khan was sentenced to life imprisonment on 11 March 2022 with 13 years minimum time to serve. “The charge was that between the 16th day of February 2021 and the 24th day of June 2021” Khan conspired to Murder Ahmad Waqass Goraya in connivance with unknown persons.

Muhammad Gohir Khan, a UK based Pakistani living in East London, formerly ran a cargo company Worldwide Cargo Services, and was in debt for £200,000. Detectives uncovered thousands of messages between Khan and ‘Mudz - also referred to as ‘Ali’ ‘Zed’ and ‘Papa’ - detailing plans for the murder. The money was to laundered using the illegal Hundi channel starting with a deposit in Pakistani private bank.