Case Update Status

Case closed: On June 24, Akram was presented before court, which reviewed the case and discharged all charges, ordering his immediate release.

Summary of Case

On June 23, 2025, journalist Akram Bijli, a reporter associated with Roznama Multan and Roznama Bethak from the Sheher Sultan area of Tehsil Jatoi, District Muzaffargarh, was arrested and presented before court after an FIR was registered against him by Assistant Commissioner (AC) Muzaffargarh, Irfan Hanjra. The Assistant Commissioner accused Akram of sharing defamatory content that alleged corruption and misuse of authority. The incident occurred in Sheher Sultan, and the action was taken under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. The FIR No. 5/24, dated June 23, 2025, was registered at Police Station Sheher Sultan under PECA Sections 20 and 24 and Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) Sections 500 and 502. The complaint stated that Akram Bijli had circulated “false and defamatory material” through social media, damaging the reputation of the Assistant Commissioner. The incident reportedly occurred at 8:35 PM on June 23, and the FIR was filed the next morning at 8:00 AM. The case was investigated by ASI Ghulam Murtaza (No. 409). On June 28, Akram told the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) that he had not posted anything on public social media, but had only reshared news reports already published in local newspapers in a private WhatsApp group. “I didn’t post anything new; I only reshared published reports,” Akram said, adding that the FIR was an act of retaliation after reports about alleged corruption by the Assistant Commissioner appeared in print. Farooq Sheikh, reporter of 92 News, called the case baseless, noting that Akram was not the original author of the corruption story but was targeted under PECA for sharing it. Malik Naveed Kashan Dogar, reporter of ARY News, confirmed that the Assistant Commissioner accused Akram of interfering in official matters, though he had only shared someone else’s reporting. Aneela Ashraf, Chief Editor of Daily Lubazad and governing member of the Multan Union of Journalists, said Akram had shared reports alleging corruption worth millions of rupees. She said the Assistant Commissioner filed the FIR after failing to justify his own actions. On June 24, Akram was presented before court, which reviewed the case and discharged all charges, ordering his immediate release. The court found no basis for the FIR.

Category of Incident

Arrest; Case Registered

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: N/A

ICCS Group: N/A

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: N/A

Reported By

PPF Safety Monitors

Date of incident

23

Month

June

Year

2025

Name of affected person

Akram Bijli

Other affected persons

N/A

Name of affected organization

Roznama Mulan

Other affected organizations

Roznama Bethak

Action by

Assistant Commissioner (AC) Muzaffargarh, Irfan Hanjra

City

Jatoi

Province

Punjab

Designation

Reporter

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: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation was announced

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation was announced

Date compensation paid by others:

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: Yes

Date of FIR:

FIR Details: 744/25

Police station of FIR: Sheher Sultan

Name of complainant: Assistant Commissioner Irfan Hanjra

Name of accused in FIR: Journalist Akram Bijli

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Yes

Court where case was presented: Civil Court Jatoi

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Khalid Farooq

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Case closed

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

No version was recorded

APNS

No version was recorded

CPNE

No version was recorded

PBA

No version was recorded

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Farooq Sheikh, reporter of 92 News, called the case baseless, noting that Akram was not the original author of the corruption story but was targeted under PECA for sharing it. Malik Naveed Kashan Dogar, reporter of ARY News, confirmed that the Assistant Commissioner accused Akram of interfering in official matters, though he had only shared someone else’s reporting. Aneela Ashraf, Chief Editor of Daily Lubazad and governing member of the Multan Union of Journalists, said Akram had shared reports alleging corruption worth millions of rupees. She said the Assistant Commissioner filed the FIR after failing to justify his own actions.

Employer organization

No version was recorded

Press Club Status

Press club 1: No version was recorded

Press club 2: No version was recorded

Press club 3: No version was recorded