CJP orders AGP to review cases of journalists’ detention under PECA

March 27, 2025 – Source: 24 News HD – 

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has taken notice of the crackdown on journalists under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) after receiving a formal complaint from the President of the Press Association of the Supreme Court (PASC).

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the CJP forwarded the letter to the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP), directing him to review the facts and address journalists’ grievances.

The letter raised concerns over the arrests of journalists Farhan Mallick and Waheed Murad, urging the top judge to intervene. It also highlighted the lack of judicial relief for journalists facing persecution.

Meanwhile, a local court on Wednesday approved a two-day physical remand of journalist Waheed Murad, who was allegedly abducted from his residence before being handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

During the hearing, Murad informed the court that police had forcefully entered his home, taken him away without explanation, and even assaulted his mother-in-law during the raid. The court proceedings have intensified concerns over the targeting of journalists under PECA.

The intervention by the Chief Justice has raised hopes that the judiciary may provide much-needed relief to journalists facing legal action under controversial cybercrime laws.

Yesterday, a judicial magistrate court in Islamabad approved a two-day physical remand of journalist Waheed Murad, who was allegedly abducted from his residence before being handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Waheed Murad told the court that police had broken into his house and forcibly taken him away, adding that his mother-in-law was also assaulted during the raid. “Just 20 minutes ago, I was handed over to the FIA,” he stated before the court.

Waheed Murad’s lawyer, Imaan Mazari, revealed that he had filed a petition seeking protection from illegal detention. She questioned why a journalist was being subjected to physical remand. “Journalism has become a crime in this country,” argued lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha.

The FIA informed the court that Murad was arrested last night for allegedly posting content related to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan on social media. They requested a 10-day remand to recover his mobile phone and investigate his X and Facebook accounts.

Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah, after hearing arguments, reserved his verdict and later approved a two-day physical remand, directing the FIA to present Waheed Murad again after the completion of the remand period.

Earlier, a petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for the recovery of missing journalist Waheed Murad from his residence in Islamabad.

According to the channel report, the petition was filed by advocates Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha on behalf of missing journalist Waheed Murad’s mother-in-law, Abida Nawaz.

In the petition, the Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Defence, Inspector General of Islamabad Police, and Station House Officer (SHO) of Karachi Company Police Station were made parties.

The mother of the abducted journalist said in her petition, “At 2 am [March 26, 2025], people dressed in black uniforms came to the journalist’s house in Sector G-8. Two police vehicles were also seen with them [the black uniform people]. People dressed in black uniforms forcibly took Waheed Murad away; the people who came to our house also misbehaved with me.”

It is requested in the petition that she tried to file a complaint of her son’s kidnapping in the Karachi Company Police Station, but a case was not registered. She appealed to the court that an order should be made to recover Waheed Murad immediately and action should be taken against those who took him away illegally.

According to the APP, more than a dozen people stormed the house of Muhammad Waheed Murad, a multimedia journalist at Saudi-owned Urdu News, taking him away, his mother-in-law said in a video statement.

Murad has previously criticised the role of Pakistan’s powerful military, which analysts say is deeply involved in the country’s politics and economy.

“The pattern of his abduction was the same as in the past,” Imaan Mazari told AFP. “The abductors, their modus operandi, and the way they stormed the house in the dead of night make it clear who they are.”

The latest kidnapping came after Farhan Mallick, founder of the Pakistani internet media channel Raftar, was arrested last week on charges of “anti-state posts and fake news” under toughened legislation.

It came in the same week the brothers of exiled journalist Ahmad Noorani were kidnapped from their family home after he wrote about the growing influence of the powerful military chief’s family.

Pakistan is ranked 152 out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ press freedom index.

https://24newshd.tv/27-Mar-2025/cjp-orders-agp-to-review-cases-of-journalists-detention-under-peca