ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday interrogated Journalist Asad Ali Toor for long eight hours in connection with a “smear campaign” against judges of the apex judiciary in the aftermath of the verdict on PTI’s electoral symbol ‘bat’.
Human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, counsel for Toor, posted on social media platform X that the journalist and his legal team left the FIA’s cybercrime wing headquarters at 7pm after his detention at 10:50am.
Toor thanked his legal and his supporters for their help and solidarity throughout the incident, saying that he faced a “tough time”.
Before his release, Mazari told Dawn.com: “We have been here (at the FIA’s cybercrime wing headquarters) since 10-11am. They (FIA officials) made the lawyers leave the room and took him to another room.
“They’ve been investigating him alone for two hours. No list of allegations has been provided. We don’t know what they’re investigating him for. He’s not allowed access to counsel during this and we are still waiting in the FIA HQs.”
She further alleged that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa was “a party to this and is fully aware of what is happening”.
Talking to digital media platform Voicepk.net, she said Toor was not served any notice but was alerted about his summon by the FIA via social media. She said Toor and his legal team complied with the summon to join the investigation as a display of the journalist’s positive intent.
She said Toor had asked for the list of allegations against him so he could submit a detailed written response. “It’s been six hours since 11am that we are sitting here,” Mazari said, adding that the legal team was asked to leave Toor.
“We were told that there is no list of allegations and the investigation will begin when the legal team leaves the room.”
Mazari said the legal team was not aware of the questions being asked of Toor.
She added that the notice was about a campaign against the judiciary.
“I think this is very unfortunate that some Supreme Court judges, or the chief justice, are abusing the FIA’s coercive power against journalists who speak the truth and criticise decisions which is the right of every citizen.”
