No case registered against journos, activists: Shireen Mazari

Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on Friday described the news about registration of cases against journalists and social media activists as “disturbing” and “incorrect”, saying the FIA had not registered any such case.

“This was disturbing news so I checked and my information is it's incorrect,” she said in a tweet in replying to a strong reaction by the HRCP (Human Rights Commission of Pakistan).

This was disturbing news so I checked & my info is it's incorrect. A private citizen has sent complaint to FIA against around 12 journalists. FIA examines all complaints but NO FIR has been registered & FIA can't register FIR under PECA without following specified legal procedure pic.twitter.com/oS7lJUo6Lm

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) September 25, 2020

A private citizen had sent a complaint to the FIA against around 12 people, she clarified. “FIA examines all complaints but no FIR has been registered,” Mazari stressed.

She went on to say that the FIA could register FIR under PECA (The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016) without following specified legal procedure.

However, Mazari added, “If anyone has contrary evidence in terms of FIRs do let me know so I can follow up further.”

Earlier, the country’s top rights body had expressed its anger and frustration over the reports that cases were being filed against 49 journalists and social media activists under PECA regulations.

HRCP is alarmed by the news in circulation that the FIA is registering cases against 49 #journalists and social media activists under #PECA regulations. We demand that the state refrain from such action and stop using the FIA to curb political #dissent.

— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) September 24, 2020

“We demand that the state refrain from such action and stop using the FIA to curb political dissent,” it added.