Case Update Status

Matter is under litigation, written statement of Soomro has been exhibited before the court of session.

Summary of Case

In September, The News correspondent and investigative reporter Imdad Soomro faced legal action after exposing corruption within the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC). On September 2, 2025, Soomro presented slides and evidence against the SPSC chairman and management at a seminar organized by the Sindh United Forum in Karachi. Following this, SPSC Chairman Muhammad Waseem filed a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and initiated a defamation suit against Soomro. The SPSC also reportedly pressured Soomro's newspaper management to silence him and asked them to stop him from reporting on the commission or posting anything on social media. According to Journalism Pakistan, investigative journalist Imdad Soomro, associated with The News, has faced pressure and threats after extensively reporting on corruption within the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC). Soomro clarified that his reporting is based on evidence and is not driven by personal enmity with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) or the Sindh government. He has been investigating irregularities, nepotism, and corruption at the SPSC for eight months and presented slides and evidence against the Commission's chairman and management at a seminar on September 2. Following this, the SPSC chairman filed a complaint with the NCCIA and initiated a defamation suit against journalist Soomro. The SPSC also pressured Soomro's newspaper management to stop him from reporting on the commission. Despite this, Soomro vowed to continue exposing corruption, citing evidence to support his claims. Meanwhile, the SPSC faces allegations of irregularities, including violating recruitment rules, ignoring court orders, and mishandling quotas. The commission's actions have undermined public trust, and observers argue that a thorough overhaul of recruitment procedures with independent oversight is necessary to restore credibility. Repeated scandals have left many candidates disillusioned after investing years in preparing for competitive exams, as reported by The Express Tribune. Investigative journalist Imdad Soomro has come forward alleging that he's being targeted for exposing corruption and irregularities within the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC). Soomro claimed on X that after his extensive reporting on the commission's malpractices, he was hit with a defamation suit and a complaint filed with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). What's concerning is that the inquiry officer has apparently already deemed the accusations against him valid without even hearing his side of the story. Soomro has been receiving threatening messages, warning him that he won't be spared. He contrasts his situation with the relative ease of criticizing high-profile figures like Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, suggesting there's a double standard at play. His writings about the SPSC's irregularities have found limited space in certain publications and on social media. On September 26, Imdad Soomro corresponded to the same story published in The Friday Times that reported the Sindh Public Service Commission's (SPSC) persistent controversy, highlighting allegations of corruption, nepotism, and procedural irregularities despite court interventions and promises of reform. The report says that SPSC, established to ensure merit-based recruitment in provincial services, has been embroiled in scandals for decades. In 2003, the Sindh High Court intervened due to massive irregularities in the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE). Similarly, in 2013, the government annulled the results of CCE-2003 following allegations of nepotism and manipulation. Again, in 2017, the Sindh government canceled CCE-2013 after a judicial commission uncovered large-scale corruption. Current Chairman Muhammad Waseem faces accusations of favoritism, with leaked WhatsApp conversations allegedly showing him assuring a political figure that recommended candidates would pass. Secretary Nazeer Qureshi is accused of running a corruption network, with his brother acting as a front man in illicit dealings. According to the report, a 2022 paper leak investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) implicated senior officials, including then-Controller Hafeez Laghari. Instead of facing penalties, Laghari was shielded by Chairman Waseem and made a complainant in a corruption case against junior officials. Candidates allege that merit is often overlooked, with some scoring high marks in written exams being declared failed, while others with lower scores pass due to political backing or bribery. Civil society voices argue that these practices corrode public trust in state institutions. The story detailed that legal experts and educationists demand an independent judicial inquiry into the allegations, stressing that dismantling the nexus between politicians, SPSC officials, and intermediaries is crucial for meaningful reform. The SPSC spokesman rejected the allegations as baseless and misleading, emphasizing the commission's commitment to merit, transparency, and fairness. However, critics question the institution's credibility, given the recurring scandals and lack of accountability. Imdad Soomro stated in a video message that he works as an investigative journalist for "The News," focusing on political development, corruption, nepotism, and irregularities. He claimed to have been working on exposing corruption within the Public Service Commission for six to eight months. According to Soomro, on September 2, 2025, he participated in a seminar at the American Cultural Center in Karachi, organized by the United Forum, where he spoke about corruption in the Public Service Commission and showed slides and evidence to support his claims. After the seminar, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission allegedly filed a complaint against him with the Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and a court case in South Karachi. The Chairman also sent an intimation letter to Soomro's chief executive, which Soomro claims is against the law, asking them to refrain from publishing any news against the commission or its chairman. Soomro further alleged that the Chairman has used his influence and wealth to pressure the police to harass him, deploying corrupt police officers to follow him. Despite this, Soomro vowed to continue investigating and reporting on the Public Service Commission's corruption, using all platforms, including media, social media, and the courts, with evidence. Speaking to PPF, Imdad Soomro detailed his experience about speaking at an event organized by the Sindh United Forum on September 2, 2025. The event, which focused on alleged corruption, illegalities, and nepotism in the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC), was attended by a large number of SPSC aspirants, lawyers, civil society activists, and others. Soomro claimed that despite other speakers delivering speeches, only he was targeted by the SPSC management, particularly Chairman Muhammad Waseem. Soomro alleged that Waseem took three courses of action against him over his 10-minute speech, in which he shared evidence of corruption and presented slides. These actions included approaching the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Karachi, filing a petition under the PECA Act before the Sessions Judge South, and another petition under 22-A/B before the Sessions Judge South for lodging an FIR against him. Soomro stated that his organization refused to support him after receiving intimation from the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC), citing fear and pressure. As a result, they prohibited him from conducting any reporting that could be adverse to SPSC or any other entity. Without organizational backing for his investigative reporting, he partnered with The Friday Times to expose SPSC's corruption, sharing detailed accounts previously discussed in a seminar. He also provided an update on the court proceedings, revealing that a civil defamation suit had been filed against him. Given his background as a lawyer (prior to starting journalism in 2007), he is personally handling the litigation. His legal representatives have submitted his statement in court; however, the documents remain confidential and are not publicly accessible. Regarding the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency's (NCCIA) actions against him, based on SPSC's complaint, he clarified that this was an internal action. SPSC did not directly issued him a notice; instead, an internal NCCIA inquiry was underway. Through internal sources, he learned approximately two weeks ago that an investigation was ongoing and potential legal action was imminent. Despite this, he has not received any formal notice, interpreting the situation as an attempt to suppress his voice. The Federal Investigation Agency’s Cyber Crime Reporting Center, Karachi, conducted a verification under Tracking No. CCW-S-26456/25, dated September 5, 2025, concerning a complaint filed by Master Muhammad Mustafa, Assistant Secretary and representative of the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC). The complaint was submitted on behalf of the Chairperson of the SPSC regarding an incident of online harassment and the dissemination of false information. According to the verification report, the complainant alleged that Imdad Soomro, identified as a self-proclaimed social media journalist and operator of a Facebook page, published a false and defamatory Facebook post on September 2, 2025. The post was titled “جي لتاژ تي تيل پروگرام خبر جا خیال” (translated as “My views in Sindh United Party Program against the bombardment of merit in the Sindh Public Service Commission”). Alongside this post, Soomro shared a YouTube video produced and circulated by another entity identified as “Sindh United Party”. The same video was further disseminated on a Facebook page titled “Badin News”. The report says that the content of the video, as cited in the complaint, included a series of serious and unsubstantiated allegations against the SPSC and its Chairperson. Among the statements attributed to the accused were claims that the Chairperson allegedly admitted during an interview that 40% of SPSC posts were distributed among politicians, 40% were sold through bribes, and only 20% were awarded on merit. As per the report, the accused also asserted that he possessed audio evidence of the conversation, though no such evidence was provided. Further allegations included claims that a teacher’s post was sold for Rs. 3 to 6 million, and that past recruitment tests, such as those for school teachers in 2024, had been leaked and manipulated for corrupt purposes. The report detailed that, the accused went on to allege that quotas for government positions were controlled by prominent political figures, including Bilawal House, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, and Faryal Talpur, and even claimed that journalists, judges, and intelligence agencies had their own quotas. Additionally, he accused several individuals, including Mujahid Unhar, said to be Faryal Talpur’s secretary, of facilitating corruption and bribe collection on her behalf. As per the report, the complainant maintained that these statements were entirely baseless, fabricated, and intended to malign the reputation of the SPSC and its officials. The report further emphasized that the accused provided no verifiable documents, credible sources, or admissible proof to substantiate his claims. The FIA’s verification concluded that the content in question constituted a prima facie offence under Sections 20 and 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which criminalize the publication and dissemination of false or fake information intended to harm the reputation and dignity of individuals. The report noted that such defamatory and misleading posts, shared widely across social media, pose a serious threat to public trust in state institutions and have caused personal and professional distress to the complainant. Based on the findings, the FIA determined that the Facebook post and accompanying video fall squarely within the description of offences under PECA, demonstrating malicious intent and an effort to damage the credibility of the Sindh Public Service Commission and its leadership. Faisal Rehman, a freelancer linked with The News speaking to PPF, commented on Imdad Soomro case highlight the fragility of press freedom in Pakistan. By exposing corruption and irregularities in the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC), Soomro faced pressure, underscoring the challenges journalists face in holding power accountable. This incident reflects a broader governance crisis in Sindh, where citizens have long questioned the fairness of SPSC's recruitment process, said Rehman. Rehman emphasized that journalists like Soomro, who dare to expose corrupt practices, do so at great personal risk, challenging not only those benefiting from the system but also the culture of silence surrounding institutional misconduct. He notes that press freedom is inextricably linked to institutional integrity, and threats to journalists weaken both democracy and public confidence in the rule of law. Rehman also highlighted the need for adequate protection and legal safeguards for journalists, stating that the state's failure to ensure their safety discourages investigative reporting and emboldens those who misuse authority. He concluded that protecting journalists who expose corruption is essential not only for defending media freedom but also for safeguarding the public's right to know and ensuring that institutions serve the people, not the powerful. Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Daily Urdu Journalists (DUJ) have condemned the harassment of senior journalist Imdad Soomro by the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) administration. In a joint statement, KUJ & DUJ President Nasrullah Chaudhry and Secretary Rehan Khan Chishti stated that journalists have a duty to expose irregularities and corruption in various institutions. They emphasized that Imdad Soomro, a veteran journalist known for his investigative reporting, should not be threatened or harassed for his work. Instead of resorting to threats, the SPSC should follow established procedures to refute any news that it finds objectionable. The KUJ & DUJ described the harassment and threats against Soomro as unacceptable and condemnable, and reserved the right to take legal action to protect journalists. The union appealed to the Sindh Chief Minister to take immediate notice of the matter and ensure that journalists can perform their duties without fear of intimidation.

Category of Incident

Legal Action

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions:

ICCS Group:

ICCS Class:

ICCS Crime:

Reported By

Journalism Pakistan

Date of incident

28

Month

September

Year

2025

Name of affected person

Imdad Soomro

Other affected persons

N/A

Name of affected organization

The News

Other affected organizations

N/A

Action by

NCCIA

City

Karachi

Province

Sindh

Designation

Correspondent

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

N/K

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: N/A

Date of compensation announcement by government: N/A

Date of compensation paid by government: N/A

Amount of compensation announced by others: N/A

Date of compensation announced by others: N/A

Date compensation paid by others: N/A

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Under probe

Court where case was presented: Session Court South, Karachi

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Surayya Soomro, Waqas Soomro, Sajjad Hussain, Dharmendra and KBA honorary Treasurer Haseeb Panhwar

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Somroos's written statement has been exhibited before the court

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Not condemned

APNS

Not condemned

CPNE

Not condemned

PBA

Not condemned

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Faisal Rehman, a freelancer linked with The News speaking to PPF, commented on Imdad Soomro case highlight the fragility of press freedom in Pakistan. By exposing corruption and irregularities in the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC), Soomro faced pressure, underscoring the challenges journalists face in holding power accountable. This incident reflects a broader governance crisis in Sindh, where citizens have long questioned the fairness of SPSC's recruitment process, said Rehman. Rehman emphasized that journalists like Soomro, who dare to expose corrupt practices, do so at great personal risk, challenging not only those benefiting from the system but also the culture of silence surrounding institutional misconduct. He notes that press freedom is inextricably linked to institutional integrity, and threats to journalists weaken both democracy and public confidence in the rule of law. Rehman also highlighted the need for adequate protection and legal safeguards for journalists, stating that the state's failure to ensure their safety discourages investigative reporting and emboldens those who misuse authority. He concluded that protecting journalists who expose corruption is essential not only for defending media freedom but also for safeguarding the public's right to know and ensuring that institutions serve the people, not the powerful.

Employer organization

N/A

Press Club Status

Press club 1: No version was recorded

Press club 2: No version was recorded

Press club 3: No version was recorded