Case Update Status

Sami Abaraham and Shoaib Sheikh are on protective bail till July 4, 2023.

Summary of Case

"Another First Information Report was registered against anchorperson Sami Abraham and Shoiab Sheikh in Islamabad’s Kohsar police station on June 15, 2023. FIR was registered by a local citizen of Islamabad named Arifullah with serious charges including sedition, conspiracy, waging war, and terrorism for their alleged involvement in the violence on May 9, following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's chairperson Imran Khan in Islamabad. The FIR (475/23) was registered under sections of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), 124-A, 120-B, 121, 121-A, 131, and Anti Terrorist Act 7, 21 I, 11Wii. Speaking to PPF, Sami Abraham told PPF that on June 16 he got protective bail from Anti-Terrorsism Court Islamabad and justice Azam Khan granted interim bail to him till July 4 and he will join the investigations and court will resume on July 4 for further investigations, same goes for Shaoib Sheikh he got protective bail from Sindh High Court on June 16 and he will soon come to Islamabad for further investigations and court proceedings. ""I did not file any application for FIR dismissal however we will join the investigations and court proceedings"" Abraham added. “The allegations were baseless and totally false” Abraham added. Siddiq Jan, Bureau chief of Bol News Islamabad told PPF that Sami Abraham and Shoaib Sheikh that duty judge of Anti-Terrorism Court Azam Khan granted protective bail to Sami Abraham till July 4, 2023, however Shoaib produced in Sindh High Court and justice Junaid Ghaffar accepted protective bail of Sheikh, court directed police to not arrest Sheikh. According to media reports, Islamabad IGP Dr Akbar Nasir said the FIR has been registered against the suspects on the complaint of a citizen according to law. Sami’s brother, Ali Raza said that on June 15, 2023 Abraham took protective bail from ATC and he will soon file an application for the dismissal of the FIR. Speaking to PPF, Myra Azam, vice president of Islamabad Press Club told that she has requested multiple times with General Secretary of National Press Club, Raja Khalil Ahmed and others to at least issue a statement in support of the journalists who have been booked under sedition charges but they are showing non-serious attitude and not ready to issue any statement. She also said the Press Club should call for a protest in this regard. “President Anwar Raza is out of the country these days but the General Secretary and others can issue a statement” Azam added. Raja Amir Abbas, legal representative of Sami Abraham told PPF that he has no knowledge of any protective bail and Abraham did not approach him regarding this issue however he spoke to Abraham and he will file for an application regarding the dismissal of the FIR. Saeed Sarbazi, president of Karachi Press Club told PPF that the press club did not issue any statement as Shoiab Sheikh is not a member of the press club."

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

The News

Date of incident

16

Month

June

Year

2023

Name of affected person

Sami Abraham

Other affected persons

Shoaib Sheikh

Name of affected organization

Bol News

Other affected organizations

Bol News

Action by

By a local citizen of Islamabad, Arifullah.

City

Islamabad

Province

Capital Territory

Designation

Anchorperson

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

52

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: 15/06/2023

FIR Details: FIR Number: 475/23

Police station of FIR: Kohsar police station

Name of complainant: Arifullah

Name of accused in FIR: Sami Abraham and Shoiab Sheikh.

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Yes

Court where case was presented: Anti Terrorism Court Islambad and Sindh High Court.

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Raja Amir Abbas

Date of first court hearing: 16/06/2023

Date of last court hearing: 16/06/2023

Status of court case: Court will resumeon July 4, 2023.

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

N/A

APNS

N/A

CPNE

N/A

PBA

N/A

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

N/A

Employer organization

N/A

Press Club Status

Press club 1: National Press Club Islamabad Vice President Myra Azam told PPF that due to the serious allegations by citizens against the media professionals which are “unrealistic and baseless”, they would call a protest for the dismissal of the FIRs.

Press club 2: N/A

Press club 3: N/A