FIA arrests journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 7 August 2021
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Journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat have been arrested by the FIA in Lahore. The arrests have prompted widespread criticism regarding press freedom in Pakistan.Summary
LAHORE—The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has reportedly taken journalists Amir Mir (pictured, left) and Imran Shafqat into custody.
Hamid Mir, senior journalist and brother of Amir Amir, in his tweet, said: "FIA Cyber Crimes Wing Lahore kidnapped journalist Amir Mir in Lahore this morning, snatched his phone and laptop. We came to know about his location after 5 hours."
Mir, while using hashtag #PressFreedom, further informed: "FIA also arrested another journalist Syed Shafqat Imran this morning from Lahore."
Amir Mir was picked up by the FIA's cybercrime cell earlier on Saturday when he left his home for the office, Geo News reported.
Rizwan Razi, another journalist, claimed that both arrested journalists have been offered to return homes with subject to written assurance to not criticize the government in the future. "However, both have refused," Razi tweeted.
Amir Mir runs a web channel nowadays. However, it is not yet clear on what charges Mir and Shafqat have been arrested. The HRCP and several politicians including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PMLN leader Maryam Nawaz, ANP’s Afrasiab Khattak and others criticized the government for curbing press freedom.
Photos courtey: geo.tv
KEY POINTS:
- FIA Cyber Crimes Wing arrests Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat in Lahore.
- Hamid Mir claims that Amir was kidnapped and had his devices confiscated.
- Both journalists were allegedly offered freedom in exchange for silence on government criticism.
- Prominent political figures criticize the government's actions against press freedom.
- The specific charges against the journalists remain unclear.
