Case Update Status

No concern authority or person shared information regarding the matter.

Summary of Case

"On 11 Sep, 2020 Bilal Farooqi, a senior journalist associated with English-language daily The Express Tribune, was allegedly taken into custody from his home in Karachi's DHA neighborhood by Defence police.

Former Karachi police chief, additional inspector general Ghulam Nabi Memon, confirmed that ""Bilal Farooqui of Express Tribune"" had been ""arrested by the station investigation officer (SIO) of Defence police"". Memon said Farooqi was ""wanted in FIR No. 613/2020 u/s 500/505 PPC of PS Defence. Dated 9.9.2020”.

According to the contents of the FIR the complainant, Javed Khan, a resident of Majeed Colony in Landhi, said that he is a machine operator at a factory in the Landhi area. He said he visited a restaurant in DHA Phase-II Extension on Sept 9 where he checked his Facebook and Twitter accounts and found ""highly objectionable material"" shared by Farooqi on the two platforms.

The complainant claimed that ""highly provocative posts"" had been shared by Farooqi against the Pakistan Army and that the same also contained material pertaining to religious hatred. Khan alleged that Farooqi had ""defamed"" the Pakistan Army and such social media posts may be used by hostile elements for their ""nefarious designs"". Therefore, legal action should be taken against him.

In a tweet, journalist Ebad Ahmed said Farooqi was taken into custody from his home by ""two men in plainclothes accompanied by two policemen"". He said police later visited his home again and officials informed Farooqi's wife that he had been detained at a police station in DHA. ""Police have taken possession of Bilal’s phone,"" the journalist added.

Meanwhile, the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), in a statement released later in the evening, said ""that the arrest of Bilal was part of the nefarious and concerted campaign to gag the free and independent voices"".

The statement observed that ""Bilal Farooqi, an active journalist who also remained executive committee of the KUJ, has been an educated and responsible youth, who never indulged in any kind of violation of Pakistani laws"".

""His only crime is that he dissents with ruling elites and raises his voice for the betterment and a progressive society,"" remarked Ashraf Khan, the KUJ president. Ahmed Khan Malik, the KUJ's secretary-general demanded his immediate release. ""We demand withdrawal of false charges against Bilal, and he must be released immediately,"" said Malik."

Category of Incident

Arrest

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0202 -Acts against liberty

ICCS Group: 02022-Deprivation of liberty

ICCS Class: 020222-Illegal restraint

ICCS Crime: Acts against liberty

Reported By

Dawn

Date of incident

11

Month

September

Year

2020

Name of affected person

Bilal Farooqi

Other affected persons

No other person affected

Name of affected organization

Express Tribune

Other affected organizations

No other organization affected

Action by

Police

City

Karachi

Province

Sindh

Designation

News Editor

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

Journalist denied to share

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: 09/09/2020

FIR Details: FIR No. 613/2020 u/s 500/505

Police station of FIR: PS Defence

Name of complainant: Private Citizen

Name of accused in FIR: Bail Farooqi

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Yes

Court where case was presented: N/A

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Case was not presented in any court

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Case was not presented in any court

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

"Meanwhile, the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), in a statement released later in the evening, said ""that the arrest of Bilal was part of the nefarious and concerted campaign to gag the free and independent voices"". The statement observed that ""Bilal Farooqi, an active journalist who also remained executive committee of the KUJ, has been an educated and responsible youth, who never indulged in any kind of violation of Pakistani laws"". ""His only crime is that he dissents with ruling elites and raises his voice for the betterment and a progressive society,"" remarked Ashraf Khan, the KUJ president. Ahmed Khan Malik, the KUJ's secretary-general demanded his immediate release. ""We demand withdrawal of false charges against Bilal, and he must be released immediately,"" said Malik. "

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

N/A

Employer organization

N/A

Press Club Status

Press club 1: Karachi press club condemn

Press club 2:

Press club 3: