Notice issued to FIA in journalist’s arrest case

ISLAMABAD: Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majuka Thursday issued a notice to the FIA on an appeal against the two-day physical remand of a journalist arrested in a case registered under the Cyber Crime Act, and sought a response.

During the hearing yesterday, Iman Mazari Advocate said there were court precedents and an appeal would be made in the sessions court. He said the magistrate’s grant of physical remand was not legally correct and requested that the court declare the remand order null and void and make Waheed Murad judicial. The court issued a notice to the FIA and adjourned the hearing till Friday (today). The judicial magistrate had approved Waheed Murad’s 2-day physical remand on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Press Association of Supreme Court (PAS) has demanded Chief Justice of Pakistan take notice of arrest of journalists and order their immediate release as well. In a letter addressed to Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi, PAS President Zulqarnain Iqbal said that despite having articles 19 & 19A read with other fundamental rights including 10A, journalists in Pakistan are facing actions by the government across the country. The PAS president gave details of the cases of various journalists, and requested the CJP to convert the letter into petition. Meanwhile, it was learnt that Chief Justice Yahya Afridi has forwarded the letter of PAS President to the branch concerned with the direction to examine the facts and resolve the matter in accordance with law.