Case Update Status

Journalist Illyas Samoon was released by the Thatta Police.

Summary of Case

"On Aug 19, 2022 Ilyas Samoon, president of Keti Bandar press club and a reporter associated with Awami Awaz was arrested by Keti Bandar police station. According to colleagues, the case has been registered against Ilyas because of his reporting over the flood disaster in Thatta. Latafullah Samoo, brother of Illyas Samoo told PPF that due to his brother’s reporting regarding rain affected areas police filed FIR against him. “We went to police station after Ilyas’s arrest but police denied and responded that Ilyas has been transferred to another police station. The police officials did not named any other police station”. Latafullah added. Iqbal Jhakro, president Thatta press club told PPF that Ilyas is paying for reporting about the local issues. Feudals of the area were not happy with his reporting. He is patriotic and dedicated journalist. Journalists protested on Aug 21, 2022 for the release of Ilyas. A committee of Thatta press club also met with SSP Thatta and shared the details. Adeel Ahmed Chandio, SSP Thatta has suspended the responsible Station House Officer (SHO) Aftab Memon who registered the fake FIR against Ilyas alleging Ilyas to have kept illegal weapons, Iqbal added. Ilyas will be presented in additional judge court Thatta today Aug 22. On August 22, 2022 editor of Awami Awaz, Iqbal Mallah told PPF that Illyas is very competent reporter, his reporting is full of facts. Police arrested him ue to his reporting on rain affected areas in Thatta and Keti Bandar. Iqbal Mallah further added that five days ago Ilyas received threating call from unknown number and received text that was “Stop reporting”. The text also included some details like: “Due to your reporting, my political career is in danger if you will not stop the reporting you e will be arrested’. Mudassir Ghafoor a member of Karachi Union of Journalist (KUJ)’s executive committee told PPF that Illyas Samoo was reported on flood disaster from his area. Police filed FIR in reaction to his reporting against him. He is currently in police remand. Karachi Union of Journalist issued a condemnation statement and demanded immediate release of Ilyas. Thatta press club’s member Ismail Memon told PPF that Illyas Samo was covering rain- affected areas and the disaster after flood in his area Keti Bander. Ali Raza Wangarao fellow reporter of Illyas samoo and member of keti bander press club told PPF that Illyas Sammo was reporting on rain effected areas and previously he was covering that nine villages that are under danger after government constructed wind power plants. PPF tried to contact police station as well but no one is speaking about the arrest of Ilyas. We have FIR and News stories covered by Ilyas."

Category of Incident

Arrest

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Group: 08039-Other acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

Reported By

Journalism Pakistan

Date of incident

19

Month

August

Year

2022

Name of affected person

Illyas sammo

Other affected persons

No other person was affected

Name of affected organization

Awami Awaz

Other affected organizations

No other Organization affected

Action by

Thatta Police

City

Keti Bander

Province

Sindh

Designation

Reporter

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

38

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:

FIR Details: FIR Number: 201/2022

Police station of FIR: Keti bander

Name of complainant: Jokhio Jodial

Name of accused in FIR: Illyas Sammo

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Case is closed

Court where case was presented: Case is closed

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Case is closed

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Case is closed

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Not required to contact

APNS

N/A

CPNE

N/A

PBA

N/A

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

"Mudassir Ghafoor a member of Karachi Union of Journalist (KUJ)’s executive committee told PPF that Illyas Samoo was reported on flood disaster from his area. Police filed FIR in reaction to his reporting against him. He is currently in police remand. Karachi Union of Journalist issued a condemnation statement and demanded immediate release of Ilyas"

Employer organization

"On August 22, 2022 editor of Awami Awaz, Iqbal Mallah told PPF that Illyas is very competent reporter, his reporting is full of facts. Police arrested him ue to his reporting on rain affected areas in Thatta and Keti Bandar. Iqbal Mallah further added that five days ago Ilyas received threating call from unknown number and received text that was “Stop reporting”. The text also included some details like: “Due to your reporting, my political career is in danger if you will not stop the reporting you e will be arrested’."

Press Club Status

Press club 1: "Iqbal Jhakro, president Thatta press club told PPF that Ilyas is paying for reporting about the local issues. Feudals of the area were not happy with his reporting. He is patriotic and dedicated journalist. Journalists protested on Aug 21, 2022 for the release of Ilyas. A committee of Thatta press club also met with SSP Thatta and shared the details."

Press club 2: N/A

Press club 3: N/A