Case Update Status

Police released journalist after 2 hours of arrest and withdraw FIR.

Summary of Case

"On 19 July, 2021 Shikarpur police register a case against Sultan rind, a reporter of Abb Tak News from Shikarpur. Journalist communities linked the case registration with the Question sultan asked from Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah.

Minister of information and Broadcasting Mr. Fawad Chaudhry tweeted about the registration of FIR against journalist and demanded fair enquiry from IG Sindh and Governor Sindh Imran Ismail.

Sultan rind told PPF that there is a worst situation of law and order in Shikarpur, powerful dacoit groups are really active in the area. He used to report the activities and related news stories to his working organization “Abb Tak” news, as he has vast knowledge of Dacoits groups and police operations against the group. He investigated about why police is continuously failing to arrest them and investigated the matter himself that what is the reason behind the deaths of Police official during operations. On May 26, 2021 Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali shah visited Shikarpur after Prime Minster Imran Khan took action of the matter. During the press briefing sultan presented his findings like why police officials is bless equipped with technology, sultan presented figures he collected. (Video proof Available). The Chief Minister did not answer him properly. Sultan felt that he will be faced consequences of this. After this, Sultan along with his friends went for lunch in Sukkur, he and his friends felt that a car is continuously following them, first followed from their house to hotel, then the same car started following them with the same speed of sultan’s car from hotel to his residence. Then, sultan received news about the dinner party at district jail around 11:30 of night attended by Political official, SSP and other police officials of Shikarpur (and Judges, he said to remain this point confidential). Sultan went there for coverage but no one allowed him, sultan stopped outside and made a video from his phone when cars were going back and uploaded on his YouTube account (Video Available) for which he received notice of attendance by FIA on July 9, 2021. SSP (No Suggestions) nominated sultan for uploading fake news against him on his Facebook account which results defamation of SSP. Following enquiry no FIA/NR3C/SUK/EnQ-71/2021/2468-69 which ordered to present in FIA office on July 15, 2021 Sultan went to FIA office, during investigation FIA official asked them to submit his cellphone and Deactivated all his Digital Media accounts, Sultan stood for his report and said he have all the evidences but after 2 days on July 18 all accounts were activated again. Then after all these matters on July 19, 2021 Sultan’s friend Tahir Jan Bhutto realized the corruption in the material of building a block near his house, the contractor threatened him and named Sultan as he behind you that is why you are doing this. Tahir made a video and uploaded on his digital media account and shared the matter with Sultan, Tahir was at Sultan’s house when a person from Tahir's house informed that Police is at the door of Tahir’s house to arrest him. Sultan along with Tahir went to police station but when they realized that SHO and other police official did not want to resolve the issue, Sultan came outside and recorded a video about the matter and said that everything can be happen with him there, after 5 to 10 minutes police handcuffed Sultan and arrested him. Police register FIR against sultan and Tahir but following the Facebook post of sultan many local journalists’ and members of civil society came at police station and protested for the release of Sultan. Police released sultan after 2 hours and withdraw FIR. According to Sultan the motive behind all these happenings is just to stop his voice and these are the reaction his harsh question to CM Sindh.

President of Shikarpur press club Sodho James condemn the registration of FIRs and told PPF that they are with Sultan for any kind of help as the matter is entirely related to his Freedom of Expression.

President of Jacobabad Press Club Mr. Nawaz solangi told PPF that Sultan is voice of Journalism and they strongly condemn the act of Sindh government is they are trying to stop the voices that raises questions against them.

President of arcana press club Mr. Sarkash Sadayu told PPF that He don’t have any update.

On July 31, 2021 Head Moharrar of laki gait police station told PPF that the FIR was register against sultan and Tahir because they demanded extortion of Rs. 500000 from Government contractor and threatened him that he will not give him required amount, they will upload news against the contractor, no one was arrested.

The Director News of Abb Tak News Mr. Shahab told PPF that he don't want to share any final statement about what is the matter. But, as far as he knows till the call the journalist sultan rind is experiencing all these things because of his open questioning style especially the question he recently asked from CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah. (Video of the Question is available) "

Category of Incident

Case Register

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0202-Acts against liberty

ICCS Group: 0202-Acts against liberty

ICCS Class: 0202-Acts against liberty

ICCS Crime: 0202-Acts against liberty

Reported By

Urdu Point

Date of incident

30

Month

July

Year

2021

Name of affected person

Sultan rind

Other affected persons

No other person affected

Name of affected organization

Abb Tak News

Other affected organizations

No other organization affected

Action by

Police

City

(No Suggestions)

Province

Sindh

Designation

Reporter

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

31 years

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: 19/07/2021

FIR Details: FIR no 41/2021

Police station of FIR: Laki Gait Police station

Name of complainant: Tahir Napar

Name of accused in FIR: Sultan Rind

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Yes

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

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Case not presented in any court

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Case 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

Director News of Abb Tak News Mr. Shahab told PPF that he don't want to share any final statement about what is the matter. But, as far as he knows till the call the journalist sultan rind is experiencing all these things because of his open questioning style especially the question he recently asked from CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah. (Video of the Question is available)

Press Club Status

Press club 1: "President of Shikarpur press club Sodho James condemn the registration of FIRs and told PPF that they are with Sultan for any kind of help as the matter is entirely related to his Freedom of Expression. Press Club 2: President of Jacobabad Press Club Mr. Nawaz solangi told PPF that Sultan is voice of Journalism and they strongly condemn the act of Sindh government is they are trying to stop the voices that raises questions against them. Press Club 3: President of Larkana press club Mr. Sarkash Sadayu told PPF that He don’t have any update. "

Press club 2:

Press club 3: