Case Update Status

Two suspects had been released on bail while the investigation against them would continue. The FIA said it would gather more evidence against the two journalists and submit a challan to the court.

Summary of Case

"The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday arrested two journalists — Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat — in Lahore for their ""disrespectful attitude"" against the Pakistan Army, the judiciary and women.

According to a press release issued by the FIA’s Cyber Crime wing Lahore, the journalists were arrested after cases were registered against them under Sections 11, 13, 20 and 24 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 and Sections 469, 500, 505 and 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The statement claimed that two YouTube channels the men were associated with, Googly and Tellings, were releasing messages attempting to weaken national security institutions and the judiciary while also weakening public trust in the institutions. The statement said the two suspects had been released on bail while the investigation against them would continue. The FIA said it would gather more evidence against the two journalists and submit a challan to the court.

The arrest of the two journalists was quick to garner attention on social media, with politicians, rights activists and the journalist community condemning the FIA's move.

PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the arrests and demanded the release of Mir and Shafqat.

""Imran Khan continues victimization of political opponents and media critics to hide his incompetence and failures,"" he said. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) termed the arrests ""inexcusable"". ""It is no coincidence that both are known as dissenting voices,"" the HRCP said.

Journalist Rauf Klasra, while calling out the arrests, said ""silencing voices in media wont help"".

""Show tolerance to those who don’t toe your line or refuse to fall in line. It will only bring [a] bad name to institutions,"" he said.

Former senator Afrasiab Khattak termed the incident an attack on ""whatever remains of press freedom"" in the country.

""Abduction replacing arrests (even under the blackest of laws) reflects the nature of unconstitutional regime ruling the country,"" he said.

Talking to Dawn, Mr. Ansari said both journalists had been released on “personal assurance” of senior journalist Sohail Warraich. Amir Mir is the brother of journalist Hamid Mir, who was recently taken off air from Geo News for allegedly speaking against the army. The TV anchor later offered an apology over the speech he made at a protest against attacks on journalists and said he had no intention to defame the institution.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) condemned the incident.

PFUJ president Shehzada Zulfiqar and secretary general Nasir Zaidi in a joint statement urged the federal government to take concrete measures to protect the journalists.

“Such illegal and unwarranted arrests show government’s disrespect towards freedom of the press, free speech and expression in the country and such draconian measures are against the civil liberties guaranteed in 1973 Constitution of Pakistan” they said."

Category of Incident

Arrest

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

Dawn

Date of incident

7

Month

August

Year

2021

Name of affected person

Amir Mir

Other affected persons

Imran Shafqat

Name of affected organization

Googly

Other affected organizations

Tellings

Action by

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)

City

Lahore

Province

Punjab

Designation

You tuber

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

N/A

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 ?: No

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

"Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) condemned the incident. PFUJ president Shehzada Zulfiqar and secretary general Nasir Zaidi in a joint statement urged the federal government to take concrete measures to protect the journalists. “Such illegal and unwarranted arrests show government’s disrespect towards freedom of the press, free speech and expression in the country and such draconian measures are against the civil liberties guaranteed in 1973 Constitution of Pakistan” they said. "

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Employer organization

Press Club Status

Press club 1:

Press club 2:

Press club 3: