Why did FIA stop journalist Asad Toor from leaving for the US?

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 10 August 2025 |  JP Staff Report

Asad Toor was prevented from leaving for the US to attend a State Department program, highlighting ongoing issues with press freedom in Pakistan. The incident raises alarms about government hostility towards dissenting voices.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — In a move that raises fresh concerns over shrinking press freedom in Pakistan, immigration authorities at Islamabad International Airport barred journalist Asad Toor from traveling to the United States to attend the US State Department’s prestigious International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP).

Toor, known for his outspoken criticism of both the military and the government, revealed the incident on X, saying:

“In personal announcement, I was travelling from #Islamabad international airport for Washington to attend 12 day @StateDept IVLP program proposed by @usembislamabad but barred from traveling by immigration authorities, stated my name is on the PNIL,” he wrote.

He further said: “I repeatedly asked the reason of adding my name on the PNIL but officials had no answer. Journalism and speaking truth to the power is made an offence in #Pakistan, yes I committed it and will keep repeating this crime. Stopping a journalist is another feather in the cap of this ‘hybrid’ regime, under whom Pakistan fell 6 points from 152 to 158th position in world press freedom index.”

The Provisional National Identification List (PNIL), maintained by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), serves as a temporary travel restriction tool, preventing individuals from leaving the country.

Analysts say stopping a journalist from participating in an international program designed to foster mutual understanding and professional growth sends a damaging message to the world about Pakistan’s democratic health. Such actions undermine the country’s credibility on the global stage, reinforce perceptions of a government hostile to dissent, and discourage open debate.

The ban also underscores the growing list of Pakistani journalists targeted for their reporting, some of whom have been forced into exile to escape threats, harassment, or criminal cases. This incident further erodes public trust in institutions and signals to the media community that criticism of powerful stakeholders can result in tangible personal and professional restrictions.

With Pakistan’s press freedom ranking already slipping, such measures deepen the climate of fear and self-censorship, potentially depriving the public of critical, independent voices.

This is not the first time Toor has faced intimidation. In May 2021, unidentified men barged into his Islamabad apartment and beat him black and blue, leaving him with severe injuries that required treatment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The motive behind the attack was never established, but Toor was harassed for months afterward.

In December 2024, his courage was internationally recognized when he was awarded the prestigious Dutch Human Rights Tulip Award for 2024. The accolade honored his fearless reporting on human rights issues in Pakistan, particularly in regions often ignored by mainstream media.