FIA officials tortured me during police custody, claims Mohsin Baig

Senior journalist Mohsin Baig who was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency earlier today (Wednesday) appeared before the anti-terrorism court which awarded his three-day physical remand, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The ace journalist told the court that a strange scene was created when the law enforcement agencies raided his house. He said he had been doing journalism for the last 32 years. “The FIA could have summoned me by placing a call,” he added. 

Baig said that his wife and children were at home when some plain-clothed FIA men entered his house. He said since crime incidents in the city were on the rise, so he took them for criminals.

The senior journalist told the court that when he was in police custody, he was subjected to torture. He requested the court to order for his medical checkup. 

His counsel said that there were clear instructions from the Islamabad High Court that without uniform, law personnel could not conduct a raid.  

The ATC judge, however, remarked that all affairs had to be investigated yet.

Counsel for the journalist prayed to the court to not award his client’s physical remand instead it could send him to jail on judicial remand as the matter was yet to be investigated. 

In an informal talk with media personnel in the courtroom, journalist Baig said that they were sleeping when some people in plain clothes barged into his bedroom. He said he thought some dacoits had broken in. He further revealed that he himself rang police and called them. 

He stated since security situation was not good, he kept pistol with him when he went to sleep. He informed he had got licence for his gun. He said that when the ‘intruders’ tried to run away, he got hold of one of the fleeing ‘intruders’ and fired a shot in the air to scare away the other.

He claimed that he was subjected to torture when he was shifted to the police station. “During police custody, the FIA officials subjected me to torture. I am unable to see from my right eye,” he added. 

Earlier, the Federal Investigation Agency and police on Wednesday arrested senior journalist Mohsin Baig in a raid at his residence in Islamabad.

An FIA team raided the house of Editor-in-Chief of Daily Jinnah and Online news agency. Heated words were exchanged when Mohsin Baig demanded of the FIA officers to show his arrest warrants.

A spokesman for Mohsin Baig claimed that the FIA and police personnel also thrashed the senior journalist.

It has also been learnt that the FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing led the raid on the house of Mohsin Baig.

In a related development, Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal heard the petition filed by Raheel Niazi, advocate of Mohsin Baig, against the latter’s arrest in a local court of Islamabad.

The lawyer adopted before the court that some persons in plainclothes came to the house of Mohsin Baig in the morning, adding that a Superintendent of Police (SP) ordered the people in plain clothes to attack the house. “They beat children in the house, broke cell phones, and took Mohsin Baig with them. It is not known who these people were, and where they were taking Mohsin Baig to,” he added.

At this, the court for the recovery of Mohsin Baig appointed a bailiff who, in his report, informed the court about the registration of a case against Baig. The case also contains among others sections of anti-terrorism act.

A spokesman for Islamabad police maintained that Mohsin Baig fired shots at the policemen who had come to his house for his arrest. “An FIA official sustained injuries in firing by the journalist,” he said, adding that the accused had been locked up in Margalla police station.

The judge ordered the police to produce Mohsin Baig in court within 10 minutes, bulldozing every reason the SHO put up for not producing the senior journalist.

Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed said that the FIA had registered a case against Mohsin Baig on his request. The application’s text reads: “Referring to the book of Reham Khan, Mohsin Baig passed derogatory remarks against me in the programme of a private news channel.” The FIA had registered the case under Section 20, 21, and 24 of PECA Act 2016.

Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the arrest of Mohsin Baig, saying that arrest of the journalist showed weakness of the government. “So weak is Imran Khan that he even fears criticism of him,” the PPP chairman said, and adding that Mohsin Baig was arrested in the presence of his family as if he were a terrorist. “In Imran Khan’s reign, terrorists flee but journalists are being arrested,” he deplored. He also demanded that the government release Mohsin Baig.

Also, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said that the government’s use of power against people on mere difference of opinion was a display of dictatorial mindset. “If one cannot tolerate criticism, one should leave politics,” he stated.

Furthermore, former premier Yousaf Raza Gillani and Senator Sherry Rehman condemned the arrest of Mohsin Baig. The PPP leaders said that the PPP believed in freedom of media, adding that the arrest of journalist by the government on mere criticism was condemnable and beyond reason. Yousaf Raza Gillani asked the government to immediately release Mohsin Baig, saying that the rulers had to bear criticism.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also condemned the arrest of Mohsin Baig and said that the government was trespassing on people’s houses. “How long will the people’s honour and privacy be breached?” he said and sought early release of the journalist.

Reporter Saud Butt