Lahore journalists face police raids, cybercrime notices: PFUJ reacts

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 21 September 2025 |  JP Staff Report

The PFUJ has condemned police actions against crime reporters in Lahore as an attack on journalistic freedom. They warn of nationwide protests if the government fails to act.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the recent police raids and notices issued by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) against crime reporters in Lahore, calling them a grave assault on press freedom and freedom of expression.

PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari, in a joint statement, described these actions as a deliberate attempt to intimidate journalists and silence critical reporting. The union highlighted that tensions between Lahore police and crime reporters have been escalating in recent weeks.

The PFUJ criticized the NCCIA’s notices issued to several journalists, including PFUJ Secretary General Arshad Ansari (pictured), Ahmed Faraz, Sheraz Nisar, Waseem Sabir, Yasir Shamoon, and Mujahid Sheikh, terming them “an open attack on the journalistic community.”

One such notice, sent to Yasir Shamoon on the complaint of Aziz Ullah Khan, accused the journalist of running “a malicious and defamatory campaign” against senior police officials. The NCCIA invoked multiple sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (as amended in 2025) and directed Shamoon to appear before its Lahore office on September 22, 2025, warning that failure to comply would be treated as a forfeiture of his right to defense.

The union also denounced a police raid on the residence of Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) President Naeem Hanif, calling it a direct attack on media independence. PFUJ urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to take immediate action against those responsible and to ensure the safety of journalists across the province.

PFUJ warned that if the government does not withdraw the NCCIA notices within 24 hours, it will launch nationwide protests, including boycotts of government events, provincial assemblies, and parliamentary proceedings.

Reaffirming its unwavering stance, PFUJ stated that journalists will not be silenced by intimidation and vowed to continue defending press freedom and holding power to account.