Case Update Status

Javeria Siddiqui lodged complaint in cybercrime.

Summary of Case

"On February 7, journalist Javeria Siddique, columnist with Dunya newspaper and Independent Urdu, spoke to CFWIJ about an organized troll campaign against her. Just a few months after the assassination of her late husband Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya on October 23, 2022, a vicious, character assassination campaign was launched against Siddique. Javeria Siddique, a Pakistani reporter and wife of late journalist Arshad Sharif, has been on the receiving end of a vile and malicious smear campaign. The Coalition for Women in Journalism is alarmed by the consistent abuse against Javeria Siddique. We condemn the pro-government attack on Siddique and her right to media freedom. Javeria Siddiqui, told PPF that after the murder of her husband and prominent journalist Arshad Sharif she resumed her work from home in January as a freelance journalist. She writes columns and articles. “From last week this campaign has started, people are assassinating my character in their tweets and I did not write anything controversial against any institution in spite of this I am facing online harassment, I lodged my complaint in cybercrime wing and they have contacted me for further investigation and after the legal framework they will tell me the further process” Siddiqui added. “I am an independent journalist and I did not write anything controversial, this is my right to penned down the issues of Pakistan” Siddiqui added. Siddique, shared an emotional tweet in response to the vicious campaign against her, saying her husband was killed with a bullet and she will be killed through character assassination. Rana Azeem, Secretary General of Pakistan federal union of journalists (PFUJ) told PPF that PFUJ condemned this campaign and urges with higher authorities to take strict actions against the harassers, however PFUJ is taking this matter towards Islamabad high court and Aftab Bajwa will be the representative of PFUJ in Islamabad high court. Jahangir Aslam, court reporter of ARY news told PPF that journalist Javeria Siddiqui did not file harassment cases in Supreme court or high court till now and however he will update if she will take this matter towards court. Shakeela Jaleel, incharge of Rawalpindi press club told PPF that “Rawalpindi press club strongly condemns the online harassment of a female journalist and this can’t be tolerated anymore, press club demands from higher authorities to take action against the harassers”. Jaleel added. "

Category of Incident

Harassment

ICCS Status

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

ICCS Group: 02081-Harassment

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: "Acts intended to induce fear or emotional distress"

Reported By

Daily Pakistan

Date of incident

7

Month

February

Year

2023

Name of affected person

Javeria Siddiqui

Other affected persons

Not other person affected

Name of affected organization

No organisation was affected

Other affected organizations

Dunya News

Action by

Unidentified people

City

Nationwide

Province

Nationwide

Designation

Freelancer

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

39

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 ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: No

Court where case was presented: Case was not presented in court.

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

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

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

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Rana Azeem, Secretary General of Pakistan federal union of journalists (PFUJ) told PPF that PFUJ condemned this campaign and urges with higher authorities to take strict actions against the harassers, however PFUJ is taking this matter towards Islamabad high court and Aftab Bajwa will be the representative of PFUJ in Islamabad high court.

APNS

N/A

CPNE

N/A

PBA

N/A

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Jahangir Aslam, court reporter of ARY news told PPF that journalist Javeria Siddiqui did not file harassment cases in Supreme court or high court till now and however he will update if she will take this matter towards court.

Employer organization

Not required to contact

Press Club Status

Press club 1: "Shakeela Jaleel, incharge of Rawalpindi press club told PPF that “Rawalpindi press club strongly condemns the online harassment of a female journalist and this can’t be tolerated anymore, press club demands from higher authorities to take action against the harassers”. Jaleel added. "

Press club 2: N/A

Press club 3: N/A