Case Update Status

Case is in untracted category.

Summary of Case

On March 1st, 2020 Journalist Asif Ali Bhatti, reporter of Geo News and general secretary of Rawalpindi – Islamabad union of Journalists (RIUJ) received threatening calls from Afghanistan on his cell phone. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and National Press Club (NPC) strongly condemned death threats to Asif Bhatti.

PFUJ President Shehzada Zulfiqar and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi in a joint statement urged the authorities to probe into the incidents of obnoxious threatening messages, calls and emails to a senior journalist and office bearer of RIUJ and take appropriate measures for arresting the culprits.

Asif Ali Bhatti is a senior reporter and columnist. He is an activist raising strong voice for freedom of expression and rights of journalist community. It is not first time that he is under serious threats by unknown elements. In April, 2020 Asif Ali Bhatti again received death threats. In threats they asked bhatti to stop writing reports against Riyasat (State) and Mazhabi Ulema (Religious scholars). Otherwise they will kill him with family.

Talking to PPF, PFUJ president Shezada Zulfikhar, condemned the case and said that Bhatti had received threats for almost 4 to 5 months and no one was taking action. Due to this situation Bhatti shifted to Lahore but then they started threatening his family, so he had to come back to Islamabad. Police and authorities did not take any action. For the sake of his security Bhatti has left Pakistan.

Talking to the PPF, Bureau chief of Geo news Islamabad, Rana Jawad strongly condemned the death threats to Asif and told PPF that this is an attack on freedom of expression. Asif was receiving threats due to his columns. Channel’s administration asked Asif to take leaves or gave options if bhatti wants to work from another station instead of Islamabad. They also discussed this case with some religious parties (he didn’t mentioned name).

The First Information report (FIR) was registered in Kohsar police station Islamabad on Mach 16, 2020. Police could not identify the callers. The case is in untraced category, according to head moharrar of Kohsar police station.

Category of Incident

Threats

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0201-Assaults and Threats

ICCS Group: 0201-Assaults and Threats

ICCS Class: 02012-Threat

ICCS Crime: 020121-Serious Threat

Reported By

The News

Date of incident

11

Month

March

Year

2020

Name of affected person

Asif Ali Bhatti

Other affected persons

No other person affected

Name of affected organization

Geo News

Other affected organizations

No other organization affected

Action by

Unidentified Persons

City

Islamabad

Province

Capital Territory

Designation

Reporter/Columnist

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

40 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: 24/11/2019

FIR Details: Case No. 497/2019

Police station of FIR: Kohsar police station

Name of complainant: Asif Ali Bhatti

Name of accused in FIR: Not available

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Under investigation

Court where case was presented: Islamabad

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Not Available

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Not Available

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) strongly condemn the incident. PFUJ President Shehzada Zulfiqar and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi in a joint statement urged the authorities to probe into the incidents of obnoxious threatening messages, calls and emails to a senior journalist and office bearer of RIUJ and take appropriate measures for arresting the culprits. PFUJ president Shezada Zulfikhar, condemned the case and said that Bhatti had received threats for almost 4 to 5 months and no one was taking action. Due to this situation Bhatti shifted to Lahore but then they started threatening his family, so he had to come back to Islamabad. Police and authorities did not take any action. For the sake of his security Bhatti has left Pakistan.

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Not required to contact

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

N/A

Employer organization

Talking to the PPF, Bureau chief of Geo news Islamabad, Rana Jawad strongly condemned the death threats to Asif and told PPF that this is an attack on freedom of expression. Asif was receiving threats due to his columns. Channel’s administration asked Asif to take leaves or gave options if bhatti wants to work from another station instead of Islamabad. They also discussed this case with some religious parties (he didn’t mentioned name).

Press Club Status

Press club 1: National Press Club (NPC) strongly condemned death threats to Asif Bhatti.

Press club 2:

Press club 3: