Journalist Community Stands with Tahir Naseer Against Allegedly Fake FIR
Islamabad: The journalist community has united in support of senior journalist Tahir Naseer following the registration of an allegedly fabricated First Information Report (FIR) against him by the Sindh Police.
The FIR was lodged on the complaint of Shoaib Aslam, a businessman residing in Mustafa Taj Colony, Korangi, Karachi, under Section 406 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which pertains to criminal breach of trust.
Prior to this incident, Tahir Naseer had filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against Mohsin Sultan, CEO of Mag Ventures (SMC-Pvt.) Limited, and his associate Muhammad Kaleem. He accused them of leaking and disseminating his and his family’s confidential data, including their NADRA Verisys and Family Tree records.
The FIA registered an FIR against the accused based on Naseer’s complaint. However, the situation escalated when Shoaib Aslam, reportedly a friend of Mohsin Sultan, filed a counter-FIR against Naseer at Zaman Town Police Station in District Korangi, Karachi, which many in the journalist community believe to be retaliatory and baseless.
In a press release issued by the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), journalists from the twin cities expressed strong solidarity with Tahir Naseer. They condemned the alleged misuse of police and legal systems by certain businesspersons, including Mohsin Sultan, to intimidate and silence the journalist.
The RIUJ stated that the businesspersons initially leaked the personal data of Tahir Naseer and his family members. When he sought legal recourse through the FIA, they retaliated with what the RIUJ describes as a “fake FIR.”
The press release further revealed that Tahir Naseer continues to receive threats from the accused individuals. The journalist community has called upon Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to take immediate notice of the matter and ensure the safety of Naseer and his family.
Additionally, the RIUJ has urged Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Inspector General of Sindh Police to intervene and investigate the circumstances surrounding the registration of the FIR against Naseer.
The journalist community’s demand for justice underscores their commitment to protecting press freedom and safeguarding journalists against undue harassment and intimidation.
This incident has sparked widespread concern about the misuse of legal provisions to target journalists and highlights the need for greater protection of press freedoms in Pakistan.