May 23, 2022 – Multiple FIRs have been registered against senior journalists Arshad Sharif, Sabir Shakir and Imran Riaz Khan for allegedly criticising state institutions, according to reports.
The FIR against Khan was filed at the Dhabeji police station in Thatta on Sunday. The complainant had heard the journalist talking against the army and state institutions in a “derogatory and provocative language” on social media, according to the FIR. Khan has been booked under Sections 131 (incitement to mutiny), 153 (provoking to cause riot), 452 (trespassing) and 505 (statement conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
A day earlier, several FIRs were registered against Sabir Shakir, Sharif and Ibrahim. They are facing accusations of sedition and promoting an “anti-state” narrative.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government of targeting journalists and said it was “absolutely unacceptable”.
I strongly condemn the political victimisation of journalists Arshad Sharif, Sami Ibrahim, Imran Riaz Khan through fake FIRs by the Imported government brought in through US regime change conspiracy. This is absolutely unacceptable.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 22, 2022
“I strongly condemn the political victimisation of journalists Arshad Sharif, Sami Ibrahim, Imran Riaz Khan through fake FIRs by the imported government brought in through the US’ regime change conspiracy,” tweeted Khan. “This is absolutely unacceptable.”
On the other hand, Sharif and Ibrahim were already facing inquiries from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for allegedly maligning state institutions and spreading “anti-state” material on social media. In a recent tweet, Sharif shared copies of the FIRs against himself (registered in Karachi and Hyderabad) and claimed that multiple cases had been filed across the country against the four journalists. According to latest reports, Sharif was granted protective bail by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May 21.
In April, Sharif, through his lawyer, filed a petition in the IHC against the FIA, accusing the agency of harassment and illegal detention. Subsequently, Justice Minallah ordered the FIA to stop harassing Sharif. The FIA later released a statement calling the reports of Sharif’s arrest “fake news” and “deplorable propaganda” against the agency. Similarly, the FIA announced an investigation into what the agency claimed was Ibrahim’s “anti-state” social media campaign earlier this month.
