Case Update Status

FIR not registered yet.

Summary of Case

"In the wake of ARY News anchorperson Meher Bokhari’s tweet regarding Rana Sanaullah Khan, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), over fifty social media users have launched a barrage of attacks against the anchor. The onslaught includes a disturbing mix of vulgar and sexist comments alongside manipulated images and videos aimed at discrediting Bokhari. This digital aggression unfolded shortly after the PML-N announced on February 11th that Waseem Qadir, an independent victor from the National Assembly Constituency NA-121 Lahore, had officially joined their ranks on their official X (formerly Twitter) account. Bokhari’s engagement in this political discourse began with her retweet of a message underscoring the value of personal dignity over loyalty to the vote. This action drew attention and was followed by a controversial move from the X account previously associated with Rana Sanaullah, now identified as @PresPMLNPunjab, which shared an old interview clip hinting at Bukhari’s involvement in media manipulation. In retaliation, Bokhari posted, and later deleted, older images of Rana post-kidnapping with a provocative caption about his electoral defeat. This exchange ignited a firestorm of criticism from PML-N supporters, who labeled Bokhari a “paid anchor” and escalated their attacks with invasive and offensive content. --- On 11th February 2024, after the elections in which PTI's independent candidate is standing with Maryam Nawaz Sharif and announcing to join PML-N. PML-N's official handle posted a video with a caption that. قومی اسمبلی حلقہ NA-121 لاہور سے کامیاب آزاد امیدوار وسیم قادر کا باضابطہ طور پر پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) میں شمولیت کا اعلان۔ (Waseem Qadir, the successful independent candidate from National Assembly Constituency NA-121 Lahore, officially announced his joining of Pakistan Muslim League (N)) After that tweet, Mehar Bokhari journalist for ARY News, retweeted a video with a caption that. وسعت اللہ خان نے کیا خوب کہا ووٹ کو نہ سہی خود کو ہی عزت دے دو (Vasat Ullah Khan said well, give honor to yourself and not to the vote) On 11th February 2024, Rana Sana Ullah (President of the PML-N Punjab) replied to the tweet. He posted an old video interview clip of Malik Riaz with Mehar Bokhari and Mubashir Luqman. Mehar Bokhari is talking with someone on his cellphone and saying, "" Yes, I got instructions. "" We will not interrupt Malik Riaz; he can talk as much as he wants. On 12th February 2024, Mehar Bokhari uploaded before and after pictures of Rana Sana Ullah captured before and after his kidnapping in which his head and face are shaved with the caption, معاف کرنا رانا جی کاش کچھ سیکھ لیا ہوتا توآج لقہ می اتنا رسوا نا ھوتے

Category of Incident

Online Harassment

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0208 - Acts intended to induce fear or emotional distress

ICCS Group: 02081 - Harassment

ICCS Class: 020819 - Other harassment

ICCS Crime: Harassment

Reported By

X (Twitter)

Date of incident

11

Month

February

Year

2024

Name of affected person

Mehar Bokhari

Other affected persons

No

Name of affected organization

ARY News

Other affected organizations

No

Action by

Supporters of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML - N)

City

Islamabad

Province

Capital Territory

Designation

Anchorperson

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

N/A

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation announcement by government:

Date of compensation paid by government:

Amount of compensation announced by others:

Date of compensation announced by others:

Date compensation paid by others:

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: No

Court where case was presented: Not presented in the court

Name of prosecuting lawyer:

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case:

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

PFUJ demanded legal action against those involved, holding higher authorities of PML-N responsible for any harm to the journalist. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2456239/pfuj-urges-pml-n-to-take-action-over-smear-campaign-against-journalists

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

On February 12, 24, DPO Mustafa, in a conversation with PPF, denied the occurrence of the reported incident. According to DPO Mustafa, there was no such event as described by the journalists, labeling their news as fake news.

Employer organization

No version was recorded

Press Club Status

Press club 1: No version was recorded

Press club 2:

Press club 3: