Islamabad – Journalist Waheed Murad was presented in court on Wednesday after being taken into custody by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on charges related to cybercrime. He was subsequently remanded into two-day physical custody for allegedly posting "intimidating content" online, according to officials.
Murad's family had previously filed a petition with the Islamabad High Court (IHC), claiming that he had been forcibly taken from his home by unknown individuals. The petition, filed by his mother-in-law Abida Nawaz, alleges that he was abducted by men dressed in black uniforms who arrived in police vehicles at their home in Islamabad’s Sector G-8.
Abida, who witnessed the incident, stated that she was also manhandled during the forced entry and had her phone taken away. In her petition, she named several government entities, including the Ministry of Defence and Islamabad Police, as respondents and urged the court to trace Murad and bring him before the court.
The petition, filed by lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, called for an investigation into the individuals responsible for Murad's alleged abduction, requesting access to him and clarification on any charges.
Murad, who had previously voiced concerns over enforced disappearances, including that of journalist Ahmad Noorani’s brothers, now faces charges under Pakistan’s cybercrime laws. An FIR was filed against him under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016, accusing him of sharing "intimidating" content on social media, including posts about Balochistan and a report by Ahmad Noorani concerning the Chief of Army Staff’s family.
During his court appearance, Murad denied being tortured and described the arrest as unjust, emphasizing that his home was stormed by officials who broke down the door. His lawyer, Chattha, questioned the need for a remand, arguing that the arrest of journalists in Pakistan is being used as a means of harassment. The court granted a two-day remand to the FIA.
Meanwhile, Murad’s wife, Shinza Nawaz, expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the authorities, stating that the family had no information about her husband’s whereabouts.
The incident has drawn criticism from journalists' associations and rights groups, with concerns mounting over the treatment of journalists in the country.
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