Asad Ali Toor
FOE Link or motive by PPF
ConfirmedCase Update Status
The case is under investigation, none of the attackers identified.
Summary of Case
On 26 May, 2021 a journalist and YouTuber, Asad Ali Toor, was severely beaten up by unidentified assailants outside his residence in Sector F-10 late night.
A police official told Dawn that some people came outside Mr. Toor’s residence located in an apartment building. A scuffle took place between him and these people who fled from the scene after thrashing him.
The injured journalist was moved to a private hospital, where his condition was stated to be stable. Narrating some of the details of the incident, Mr. Toor said through video that the attackers had asked him about the source of his funds.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry took notice of the incident and ordered the Islamabad police chief to probe the matter.
The journalist was accused of defaming the military last year and also faced a court case in this regard. According to the FIR, Mr Toor had allegedly indulged in propaganda against Pakistan and its institutions on social media for long.
However, the Lahore High Court absolved him of the charges after the FIA police told the court that no evidence was found to support the charges.
While talking to Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) president of National Press Club told that Asad Ali Toor is a Journalist who’s working freelance and running a YouTube channel. Police confirmed that the incident happened last night. We strongly condemn the incident and demand a quick arrest of accused. Action should also be taken against those to whom on the laws does not apply, he further added.
On May 26, 21 Mr. Mustafa Tanveer SSP Operations told PPF that the First Information Report (FIR) has been filed in Shalimar Police Station and the case is under Investigation.
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) has strongly condemned attack on Journalist Asad Ali Toor by unknown attackers who entered into his apartment and tied his legs and arms and severally beaten him late in the night.
President PFUJ Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi in a joint statement said that this is second time that journalist Asad Toor is being harassed and beaten. “This cowardly act of beating and harassing an independent journalist shows anxiety of anti-media agents who are bent upon denying freedom of press and free speech and expression in the country” they said.
On 27th May, 2021 The capital police have constituted a SIT comprising of SP Saddar Zone, DSP/SPO Ramna Circle, DSP Special Branch, SHO Shalimar police station.
According to the FIR, a man rang a doorbell of Mr. Toor’s flat in F-11 at around 11PM on Tuesday. When Mr. Toor opened the door the man who was wearing a mask pushed him inside and held him at gunpoint and told him that he was from a security agency.
In the meantime, two more masked man entered the flat, the FIR said, adding that later all three removed their masks. They pushed him to the bedroom and one of them sat over him, the FIR said, adding that they asked him how much foreign funding he received.
In response, Mr. Toor asked him to check his bank account and he only received his salary, it said, adding that they later tied him and asked him to chant slogans. The FIR said they also made a video of him.
The team will be headed by SP Saddar with DSPs Special Branch and Ramna Circle as well as Shalimar SHO its members.
The team work under the supervision of SSP investigation, used scientific and forensic methods including CCTV footages and Safe City cameras to trace the culprits involved in the incident.
On May 28, a countrywide protest were held, Speakers at rallies organized by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in the country demanded an investigation into the attack on journalist Asad Ali Toor and immediate arrest of the attackers.
According to police report submitted in Islamabad High Court on October 10, 2021, the investigation team tried all the efforts to arrest the culprits but no one has been arrested or identified till date.
Category of Incident
Assault
ICCS Status
ICCS Divisions: 0201- Assaults and threats
ICCS Group: 02011- Assault
ICCS Class: 020111- Serious assault
ICCS Crime: Assaults and threats
Reported By
Dawn
Date of incident
26
Month
May
Year
2021
Name of affected person
Asad Ali Toor
Other affected persons
No other person affected
Name of affected organization
Asad Toor Uncensored (Youtube channel)
Other affected organizations
No other organization affected
Action by
Unidentified
City
Islamabad
Province
Capital Territory
Designation
Reporter
Professional category
Journalist
Age of victim
N/A
Marital Status
N/ACompensation 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: 28/05/2021
FIR Details: FIR Number: 164/21
Police station of FIR: Police Station Shalimar
Name of complainant: Asad Toor
Name of accused in FIR: Unidentified
Court Details
Was case investigated ?: Under Investigation
Court where case was presented: Islamabad high court
Name of prosecuting lawyer: N/A
Date of first court hearing:
Date of last court hearing:
Status of court case: Under hearing
Journalist Union Status
PFUJ
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) has strongly condemned attack on Journalist Asad Ali Toor by unknown attackers who entered into his apartment and tied his legs and arms and severally beaten him late in the night. President PFUJ Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi in a joint statement said that this is second time that journalist Asad Toor is being harassed and beaten. “This cowardly act of beating and harassing an independent journalist shows anxiety of anti-media agents who are bent upon denying freedom of press and free speech and expression in the country” they said.
APNS
CPNE
PBA
Condemn Status
Colleague of victim
Many journalists condemn the incident and protested.
Employer organization
N/A
Press Club Status
Press club 1: While talking to Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) president of National Press Club told that Asad Ali Toor is a Journalist who’s working freelance and running a YouTube channel. Police confirmed that the incident happened last night. We strongly condemn the incident and demand a quick arrest of accused. Action should also be taken against those to whom on the laws does not apply, he further added. On May 26, 21 Mr. Mustafa Tanveer SSP Operations told PPF that the First Information Report (FIR) has been filed in Shalimar Police Station and the case is under Investigation.
Press club 2:
Press club 3: