Through her solicitors, S Karthigesan and R Kengadharan, Syeda has pleaded to Anwar to exercise his discretion in making a request to immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud to immediately extend their visas to remain in the country.

“She has 24 hours from now before her flight tomorrow afternoon. There is no guarantee for her safety and whether she would be allowed out of her country once she returns to Pakistan tomorrow.

“That would also jeopardise her seeking legal assistance in Malaysia,” they said in a statement.

On Jan 9, FMT reported that Syeda wrote to Khairul to seek an extension of her Malaysian visa on Jan 6.

According to lawyer P Waytha Moorthy’s office, she needed the visa extension to determine her husband’s whereabouts and what action she could take in Malaysia, if needed. The immigration department was given time until Jan 14 to confirm the decision, according to her lawyers.

Activists such as Adrian Pereira of North-South Initiative and John Quinley of Fortify Rights have urged the immigration department to help Syeda prolong her stay in the country.

Fawad, 41, was living in exile in Malaysia for more than 10 years. He has been missing since Aug 23 last year.

He had sought asylum for alleged persecution in Pakistan over articles related to government corruption.

Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail recently confirmed Fawad was deported after the authorities received a request from Islamabad.