Syed Fawad Ali Shah

FOE Link or motive by PPF

Confirmed

Case Update Status

"On March 10, 2023, Fawad has been released on bail and also been banned from renewing his passport for ten years and travelling outside Pakistan. His case is an example of the mobility controls that many countries use to retaliate against their citizens. "

Summary of Case

"Syed Fawad Ali Shah, a Pakistani journalist who fled to Malaysia in 2011 and obtained refugee status there, was deported to Pakistan in August 2022 and subsequently imprisoned. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called for his immediate release, citing the fact that he had been deported despite having refugee status in Malaysia. Shah's wife claimed that he had been abducted, tortured, and threatened by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI) in retaliation for his journalism and that the ISI had worked with Malaysian authorities to repatriate him. Shah was subsequently accused of violating the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and of defamation, intimidation, and obstruction of officials. His lawyer and wife stated that the police had not presented evidence against him. Shah's whereabouts were unknown until February 2023, when he was found to be imprisoned in Peshawar. His legal team filed a bail application in mid-February, but on February 18, he was transferred to the Peshawar Central Jail without his family or lawyers being informed. Iman Zainab Mazari Hazir, the legal representative of Syed Fawad Ali Shah, told PPF Fawad’s case is in Islamabad High Court under sections 20 and 24 PECA 2016 under sections 186, 500, 506 PPC. According to the First Information Report, Fawad had allegedly shared defamatory content against public officials. The legal consultants of Syed Fawad Ali Shah have filed the Quashment. “I’m also sharing with you the copy of an application filed by the Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) for the judicial remand of a journalist before the magistrate”, Mazari added. Fawad was in Peshawar court before. However, he has gotten bail and even from Adiala, he has brought his bail, but he is still in police detention. The FIA has shown Fawad’s arrest date as January 26, 2023; however, the Malaysian home minister confirmed that in August 2022, he was deported from Malaysia at the Pakistan government’s request. The court’s next hearing for the bail petition will be on March 10, 2023. The Malaysian government confirmed that in August 2022, he was deported to Pakistan. “Whose detention Fawad was in? This question remains unanswered,” Mazari said. Shahzada Fahad, former general secretary of the Peshawar press club, told PPF that Syed Fawad Ali Shah was a former resident of Peshawar and was based in Gulbahar. “I was also working on his case and cannot disclose further details as the matter is susceptible,” Fahad said. Nasir Hussain, president of the Khyber Union of Journalists, told PPF that they would update you on whether the wife of Syed Fawad Ali Shah is in Pakistan or not in Pakistan. PPF also tried to contact Shahid Aslam in this regard, but he did not disclose anything with the Pakistan press foundation. PPF also contacted Afzal Butt, president of PFUJ, Rana Azeem, secretary general of PFUJ and the national press club of Islamabad in this matter. Still, they needed to learn about this case. "

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 against liberty

Reported By

CPJ

Date of incident

3

Month

March

Year

2023

Name of affected person

Syed Fawwad Ali Shah

Other affected persons

Not other person affected

Name of affected organization

No organization was affected.

Other affected organizations

No other organization was affected

Action by

By the Federal investigation agency (FIA)

City

Islamabad

Province

Capital territory

Designation

Reporter

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

35

Marital Status

Married

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: 26/10/2020

FIR Details: FIR Number: 39/2020

Police station of FIR: FIA cybercrime reporting center

Name of complainant: Deputy inspector general of police, Salman Chaudhry.

Name of accused in FIR: Syed Fawad Ali Shah

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Yes

Court where case was presented: Islamabad High court

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Imaan Zainab Mazari and Ali Ammar Rana

Date of first court hearing: 18/02/2023

Date of last court hearing: 10/03/2023

Status of court case: Fawad got bail on March 10, 2023.

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Nasir Hussain, president of the Khyber Union of Journalists, told PPF that they would update you on whether the wife of Syed Fawad Ali Shah is in Pakistan or not in Pakistan.

APNS

N/A

CPNE

N/A

PBA

N/A

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Not required to contact

Employer organization

Not required to contact

Press Club Status

Press club 1: "Shahzada Fahad, former general secretary of the Peshawar press club, told PPF that Syed Fawad Ali Shah was a former resident of Peshawar and was based in Gulbahar. “I was also working on his case and cannot disclose further details as the matter is susceptible,” Fahad said. "

Press club 2: N/A

Press club 3: N/A