FIA Obtains 5-day Remand For Journalist Asad Toor

In Islamabad, a district and session court has granted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) a five-day remand for journalist Asad Ali Toor in connection with a case related to an online anti-judiciary campaign. This legal development follows the caretaker federal government’s establishment of a joint investigation team (JIT) last month with the mandate to “ascertain facts behind a malicious social media campaign.” This campaign gained momentum after the Supreme Court’s decision to strip the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of its electoral symbol, the bat.

Last week, the FIA interrogated Asad Toor, an independent journalist known for his YouTube channel, for eight hours. This questioning came after he received a call-up notice based on the JIT’s report. According to reports, the FIA took Toor into custody on Monday when he visited their office to respond to summon notices issued the previous week, calling for his participation in the investigation regarding the online campaign against the judiciary.

Read more: Aleema Khan Summoned By FIA For Hate Speech

Asad Toor’s lawyer, Imaan Mazari, stated that the legal team went to the FIA office with an order from the Islamabad High Court, which had instructed the agency not to harass the journalist. Despite the court order, Toor remained on the FIA premises, and Mazari reported that an official eventually handed them a note, formally announcing Asad Toor’s arrest.

Today, the FIA presented Asad Toor before Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Shabbir, seeking his physical remand for further interrogation. The magistrate approved the plea, granting a five-day remand for Toor.

The situation raises concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists in Pakistan. The legal proceedings and remand approval underscore the complexities surrounding the case and the need for a thorough investigation, while advocates for free speech closely monitor developments to ensure the protection of journalists’ rights during legal processes.