PPF condemns FIA raid on Mohsin Baig’s residence

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Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) has expressed concern at the unauthorized raid conducted by officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at the house of editor and analyst Mohsin Baig. While the FIA is within its jurisdiction to investigate complaints, a raid conducted prior to the registration of the criminal complaint, is condemnable and an act of overreach by the investigative agency.

On February 16, the FIA had raided Baig’s house in Islamabad and arrested him after he “allegedly shot at and roughed up members of the raiding team,” Dawn reported. Video footage of this has been circulated on social media.

Quoting an FIA press release, the report added that as per the investigative agency, the raid had been conducted after a “search and seizure warrant” had been received by the court. The press release added that Baig and his sons and servants had fired at the FIA team and held them hostage.

They said the raid had been conducted on the complaint of Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saaed. Baig had been part of an episode of NewsOne show G for Gharidah on February 11 where he had made a remark regarding the federal minister. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had issued a show-cause notice to the network.

Meanwhile, a petition was moved on Baig’s behalf at a sessions court. As per the sessions court, the raid was “illegal”.

As per court proceedings reported by Dawn, the case against Baig was registered at 9AM while the raid had been conducted at 8AM.

The raid had also been conducted by “unknown persons in civil dress”.

The action of the FIA to act ahead of the case being registered is concerning. At the same time, Baig’s decision to fire upon FIA officials is also regrettable and unacceptable. While the FIA claims that it was acting on the basis of search and seizure warrant, the sessions court has rejected this assertion.

The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has condemned the raid at Baig’s residence.

In a statement, CPNE President Qazim Khan said that freedom of press and freedom of expression is a democratic and constitutional right but it should be exercised on the basis of journalistic values and principles.

He said that to arrest a senior journalist without any warrant and to harass his family and to violate the protection of a house was highly condemnable.