Pakistanis urged to release journalist Asad Toor after FIA arrested him

Pakistanis urged the release of journalist and YouTuber Asad Ali Toor after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested him. Iman Mazari, the lawyer of Asad Toor, confirmed the news of his arrest.

Iman Mazari stated that the first FIA authorities called Asad Toor for investigation and held him in custody till 9:00 p.m. the previous night. Afterward, FIA delivered her a handwritten message from Asad suggesting he had been arrested.

Asad Toor has been arrested by FIA
— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) February 26, 2024

Upon receiving the handwritten message, lawyer Iman and her husband, Advocate Abdul Hadi, asked FIA officials whether they had arrested Asad formally, to which they replied yes without providing an FIR to them.

Human Rights activist Usama Khilji informed Geo News that the FIA arrested Asad Toor without the FIR producing a copy of the charge against him. He stated this will have a chilling effect on all journalism in Pakistan. It is a big concern for all citizens that they don’t have their basic right to information.

State of press freedom & democracy in Pakistan in one picture: journalist @AsadAToor in handcuffs being escorted by Police.

FIR presented after “arrest”, & court grants 5 day physical remand to FIA. His “crime”? Covering stories others are too afraid to. #ReleaseAsadToor pic.twitter.com/R91zOsjqmc
— Usama Khilji (@UsamaKhilji) February 27, 2024

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Following the illegal detention, Pakistanis urged law enforcement agencies of Pakistan to release journalist Asad Ali Toor. They consider it a violation of fundamental human rights, journalism ethics, and freedom of speech.

The arrest of Asad came after a caretaker government formed a six-member high-powered Joint Investigation Team (JIT). The purpose of JIT was to look into the hostile campaign against top-court (SC) judges after Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa-led panel declared the results of PTI intra-party elections illegal.

Following this SC decision, Journalist Asad Toor strongly criticized the verdict and CJP Qazi Faez. Hence, the SC stripped PTI of its distinctive symbol bat by declaring its party elections illegal. Asad considered the decision a manipulative attempt to abolish the fundamental democratic rights of PTI.

However, FIA also arrested another renowned Pakistani journalist, Imran Riaz Khan, just four days before. His arrest also came for an alleged malicious campaign against Supreme Court Judges.