JournalismPakistan.com | Published February 18, 2019
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD – Journalist Rizwan Razi recounted in a television interview how he was picked up by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on a Saturday morning from his Lahore home on alleged charges of violating the cybercrime law.
“As I was getting ready to have breakfast, the doorbell rang. I went downstairs, and there were two men in white clothes. I shook hands with them and wanted to know who they were, but they quickly shoved me in a white van and took me away,” recalled Razi.
He was speaking on CanadaOne TV show BMC Live after his release on bail.
He said when the men in the van handcuffed him he realized he had been arrested. “They told me they were from FIA.”
Razi is popularly known as Razi Dada because of his Dada Pota FM radio show in which he appears as a granddad. He earned great fame through this program.
Talking about his photo in handcuffs released to the world, he said it established he was innocent, although many people saw it as an act of humiliation of an individual.
Much before his arrest, the FIA had summoned Razi over some of his hard-hitting tweets. He said he had apologized then, and told the officials he would avoid doing so.
He revealed on the show that a request to cancel his bail had been filed in the court. It points out that the judge who granted bail acted outside his powers, and could have only sent him to jail on remand.
Meanwhile, he also clarified that he was not anti-PTI. He pointed out that he was told by his employers to leave his position as editor of Nai Baat on the specific instructions of Nawaz Sharif for his critical writings.
Razi also said he had never met Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Nawaz Sharif, and laughed off a question that he was on her payroll.
He said that he cried when he was labeled anti-state by some people. “It is the third time, I have been called anti-state. When the ISPR chief flashed my ID along with those of several other journalists during a press conference stating they were promoting the enemy’s narrative, I was hurt and cried.”
Razi said that he was not practicing journalism on social media but only expressing his views. “When I am writing for a newspaper or any other publication, and any unguarded word goes in, I can be held responsible, and punished.”
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.