Case Update Status

Punjab govt withdraw the FIR

Summary of Case

"The Punjab government has indicated that it will quash the first information report (FIR) registered against SAMAA TV reporter Daniyal Umer for reporting ‘fake Covid vaccine entry’ in the name of late Kulsoom Nawaz in Lahore, it was learnt on OCt 5, 2021.

The FIR was registered under Section 420 [cheating and dishonesty].

“Whatever happened with Daniyal Umer is condemnable and the FIR will be disposed of,” said a spokesperson for the Punjab government Hassan Khawar on the SAMAA TV program Awaz. “There is no censorship on any journalist in Punjab. We have never harassed any reporter, and we never will.”

The Punjab government, he said, encouraged reporters for investigative journalism so that the provincial government could address flaws in the system.

According to reports, the Covid vaccine, given under Kulsoom Nawaz’s CNIC number, was registered and administered in the name of a Lahore-based woman who was inoculated on October 5. While checking the system error, it was observed that the system replied ‘This citizen is not eligible for vaccination’ on multiple occasions. The first message was received by Daniyal Umer’s phone number.

The FIR, registered on a complaint filed by the deputy health officer in Mailsi, claimed: “Daniyal Umer has registered the CNIC number of a deceased woman. This is fraud and an attempt to degrade the system.”

“This story exposes flaws in the systems of the Punjab government,” said Daniyal Umer.

To verify the news, the Lahore-based reporter, Daniyal Umer, had sent a message on 1166 with the CNIC number of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz. According to the government record, Begum Nawaz, who had died on September 11, 2018, had been vaccinated with the first dose of PakVac-CanSino on October 5 at the DHQ hospital in Mailsi.

Earlier in the day, addressing a press conference, federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed assured an independent investigation of the FIR.

“I will investigate this matter,” he said. “We should see the repercussions of such news. This will put a question mark on the vaccination status of other Pakistani citizens,” he added.

Earlier, SAMAA TV also reported two fake vaccine entries of PML-N’s Nawaz Sharif, who is in London since 2019."

Category of Incident

Case Register

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0202 -Acts against liberty

ICCS Group: 02022-Deprivation of liberty

ICCS Class: 020222-Illegal restraint

ICCS Crime: Acts against liberty

Reported By

Samaa News

Date of incident

5

Month

October

Year

2021

Name of affected person

Daniyal Umer

Other affected persons

No other person affected

Name of affected organization

Samaa News

Other affected organizations

No other organization affected

Action by

Punjab Government

City

Lahore

Province

Punjab

Designation

Reporter

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

27

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation announced

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date compensation paid by others: No compensation announced

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: Yes

Date of FIR: 05/10/2021

FIR Details: FIR No. 527/21 FIR was registered under Section 420 [cheating and dishonesty].

Police station of FIR: Vehari City

Name of complainant: Dr. Muhammad Naveed Iqbal

Name of accused in FIR: Daniyal Umer

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Yes

Court where case was presented: Case was not presented in any court

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Case was not presented in any court

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Case was not presented in any court

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

N/A

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

N/A

Employer organization

Samaa news condemned.

Press Club Status

Press club 1: Lahore press club condemned.

Press club 2:

Press club 3: