Waheed Murad Detained: Press Freedom Under Attack
The case against Waheed Murad has sparked widespread concern among journalists and rights activists, who are calling for the government to respect press freedom and protect the rights of journalists. The incident is seen as a blow to press freedom in Pakistan, where journalists are already facing growing restrictions and threats.
Journalist Waheed Murad was remanded in the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) two-day physical custody for posting "intimidating content" online, sparking widespread concern over press freedoms in Pakistan. Murad was taken into custody from his home in Islamabad by unknown individuals, who were reportedly wearing black uniforms and carried out the action without showing any arrest warrants.
The FIA filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Murad under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016, for sharing "intimidating content" on social media. The FIR alleged that Murad shared fake information leading to hatred against government functionaries and that he had also shared a report by journalist Ahmad Noorani, which contained pictures of the family members of the chief of army staff with intimidating remarks. Rights activists and the media fraternity have expressed concern over the incident, with many condemning the alleged abduction and calling for Murad's safe recovery.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and the Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) have condemned the arrest of journalists, including Waheed Murad, and the filing of cases against them under the PECA law. The organization demanded the government and state institutions to halt their actions against journalists or face a strong reaction. The incident has been widely criticized, with many viewing it as an attack on press freedom in the country.
The detention of Waheed Murad is the latest in a series of incidents that have raised concerns about the state of press freedom in Pakistan. The country has faced criticism for its crackdown on press freedoms, including the kidnapping of Ahmad Noorani's brothers and the blocking of social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok. The incident has sparked an outcry among journalists and rights activists, who are calling for the government to respect press freedom and protect the rights of journalists.