Sami not in the custody of intelligence agencies, court told

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 26 May 2023

The Islamabad High Court addressed the abduction case of Sami Ibrahim, confirming he is not in the custody of any intelligence agency. The court ordered a geo-fencing of his mobile phones to trace his whereabouts.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—The Islamabad High Court (IHC) started its proceedings on Friday regarding the abduction of BOL News President Sami Ibrahim, with updates revealing that the journalist is not in the custody of any intelligence agency.

President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Afzal Butt, said that during the hearing, the Ministry of Defense presented its report before the court, stating that Sami is not with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) or any other secret agency.

Sami was forcibly abducted from Islamabad's 7th Avenue on Wednesday after leaving his office. The incident has sparked concerns about the safety and security of journalists in the country.

Chief Justice of the IHC, Justice Amir Farooq, ordered the geo-fencing of Sami's mobile phones to trace his whereabouts. The court also requested the submission of a record of cases against Sami in all four provinces. The hearing was adjourned until Monday.

Concerns over the safety and well-being of journalists in Pakistan continue to mount, and this case and that of another journalist Imran Riaz Khan, who has been missing since May 11, has intensified the urgency for immediate action to protect press freedom and ensure the safety of media professionals.