Case Update Status

On May 23, 2023 Lahore High Court has issued restarining court to police officials.

Summary of Case

"Punjab police raided the apartment of journalist Shahid Aslam on May 22, 2023, for covering the protests on May 9, 2023, following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan near Jinnah House, Lahore. Shahid Aslam is currently affiliated with Bol News Lahore as a senior correspondent. Speaking to PPF, Shahid Aslam a correspondent for Bol News Lahore shared that he has been harassed by the Punjab police for two days and yesterday the police raided his house after which he contacted IG Punjab Usman Anwar and asked why is police raiding his house and harassing him also asked him if he was charged under any crime so he can tell him, he will visit the police station by himself there is no need to raid his house. Shahid Aslam was absent from his residence during three consecutive police raids. The first raid occurred on May 16, followed by another on May 17, and the last one on May 18, 2023. Aslam was in Islamabad throughout these raids, which resulted in the police's failure to apprehend him. However, the family of Aslam was subjected to harassment by the police. Subsequently, on May 22, 2023, the police conducted a final raid on Aslam's house, prompting the journalist to file a writ petition with the Lahore High Court. Speaking to PPF, Aslam said he was at his apartment on May 22, 2023, when his neighbor called and informed him about the police. Then he tweeted immediately and the police left after a few minutes after that he called police high-ups and told them the situation, Dr. Usman Anwar inquired about the matter to which he assured that no one would bother him again as instructions have been passed on to police officials. ""After complaining to IG Punjab, the series of raids has not stopped so I have filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court and today was the first hearing of the court in which the Judge has issued the restraining orders and ordered police to stop raiding into the residence of Aslam” Aslam added. “Police have been harassing me as if I have committed any crime, my only crime was to cover the protest of PTI on May 9, 2023, after which the series of raids continued to my residence,” Aslam said. "

Category of Incident

Raid

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0202-Acts against liberty

ICCS Group: 02022-Deprivation of liberty

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: Acts against liberty

Reported By

CPJ

Date of incident

22

Month

May

Year

2023

Name of affected person

Shahid Aslam

Other affected persons

Not other person affected

Name of affected organization

Bol News

Other affected organizations

No other organization was affected

Action by

By the Punjab police

City

Lahore

Province

Punjab

Designation

Reporter

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

45

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 ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Yes

Court where case was presented: Lahore High Court

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Mian Ashfaq Ali

Date of first court hearing: 23/05/2023

Date of last court hearing: 23/05/2023

Status of court case: Court issued restraining orders

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Not required to contact

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Not required to contact

Employer organization

Not required to contact

Press Club Status

Press club 1: Not required to contact

Press club 2:

Press club 3: