Case Update Status

Case Closed as no FIR was filed regarding the case that was a misubderstanding that police arrested the journalist and later released him on court orders. Police officials came and apologize to the journalist.

Summary of Case

"On Sep 23, 2020, Islamabad Police arrested Ihtesham Kiyani, a senior journalist with 24 News Television, in a fake case as he arrived at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Police took the journalist to Ramna Station but following court orders, released him.

Kiyani was at the IHC to cover a case involving PMLN Vice President Maryam Nawaz and her husband Capt. (Retd) Safdar.

Police told journalists that Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah had ordered Kiyani’s arrest. However, the Chief Justice said he had issued no such order and asked police to free the reporter.

Journalists of Islamabad Lahore, Multan, Mianwali, Toba Tek Singh and other cities condemned the arrest and stages protests, expressed solidarity with him. They termed it a cruel and unreasonable act and demanded that Minister Imran Khan and Interior Minister Ijaz Shah take notice of the incident.

Hamid Mir denounced the arrest of Ihtesham Kiyani, saying where there is no press freedom there is nothing.

In his reaction, PFUJ Secretary General Rana Azeem said the government wanted to turn every channel into PTV (Pakistan Television). Afzal Butt said they will not allow anyone to hurt media. “We will face the ‘dirty tactics’,” he added.

In conversation with PPF Ihtesham Kiyani said that He was at the IHC to cover a case involving PMLN Vice President Maryam Nawaz and her husband Capt. (Retd) Safdar. No one was allowed their except the reporters of High Court beat. Police misunderstand me and arrested me. Police released me when Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court Justice Athar Minallah ordered. Later on police officials came and apologized to me. No FIR was filed regarding the case."

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

Journalism Pakistan

Date of incident

23

Month

Sep

Year

2020

Name of affected person

Ihtesham Kiyani

Other affected persons

No other person affected

Name of affected organization

24 News

Other affected organizations

No other organization affected

Action by

Police

City

Islamabad

Province

Capital Territory

Designation

Reporter

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

29 Years

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation Announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: N/A

Date of compensation paid by government: N/A

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation Announced

Date of compensation announced by others: N/A

Date compensation paid by others: N/A

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: No FIR registered

Court where case was presented: No case registered

Name of prosecuting lawyer: No case registered

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: No case registered

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Condemn

APNS

N/A

CPNE

N/A

PBA

N/A

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Not required

Employer organization

Not required

Press Club Status

Press club 1: Not required

Press club 2: Not required

Press club 3: Not required