FIR Against Six Journalists and Arrest of Senior Journalist Zaffar Mughal in Mirpur Spark Protests
A First Information Report (criminal complaint) has been registered against several journalists in Mirpur, Azad Jammu, and Kashmir, including Abid Hussain Shah, president of the Kashmir Press Club, along with journalists Zaffar Mughal and Zafeer Bacha from Daily Uraan, Amjad Baig from JK News, and Raja Mushtaq Ahmed. The FIR, lodged at the New City Police Station under Section 22-A, is linked to a 2020 report alleging that Sardar Naseer Sarwar, the Superintendent of Mirpur Jail, had sexually assaulted a female prisoner.
The case has sparked outrage among the local media community, who view the FIRs as retaliatory action aimed at silencing critical journalism.
President KPC Shah criticized the FIRs, calling them a “direct attempt to silence the media.” His sentiments were echoed by other journalists, including Zafeer Bacha and Amjad Baig, who accused the authorities of using legal action as a tool to suppress press freedom.
Superintendent Sarwar, the complainant in the case, defended the FIR, stating that his version of events was not sought before the report was published. “A medical examination of the female prisoner was conducted, and the results were negative. We pursued the case in the Sessions Court, which ruled in our favor. The journalists’ appeal to the High Court was dismissed in June 2023, and after they did not pursue an appeal in the Supreme Court, we proceeded with filing the FIR,” Sarwar explained.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the FIRs and the arrest of Mughal. PFUJ President Afzal Butt called the charges “a clear violation of press freedom” and demanded the immediate release of Mughal and the dismissal of all charges. “These actions set a dangerous precedent for journalism in the region,” Butt added.
Protests have erupted in Mirpur, with journalists demanding Mughal’s release and the withdrawal of the charges. The PFUJ and local media organizations have vowed to continue their demonstrations until the FIRs are dismissed.
Source: Pakistan Press Foundation