Pakistan: Uproar over arrest of PM Imran Khan’s ex-media strategist, head of local news agency

Islamabad; Pakistan’s media and journalists’ representative bodies and civil society on Thursday expressed concerns over the arrest and alleged torture of the Chief Editor of Online News Agency and former media manager of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s election campaign in 2018, Mohsin Jamil Baig for “character assassination” of Federal Minister Murad Saeed.

President of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) Kazam Khan in a statement condemned the arrest of Mohsin Baig and ‘harassment’ of his family.

Members of the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) also staged a protest demonstration outside the National Press Club condemning the arrest and torture of Mohsin Baig by the officials of the law-enforcement agencies.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday ad raided the residence of Mohsin Baig in Islamabad’s upscale residential area F-8 Sector and arrested him after he allegedly fired a gunshot and tortured a member of the raiding team.

The FIA claims it was acting on a case filed against Mohsin Baig after a complaint lodged by Federal Minister for Communication Murad Saeed with the Cyber Wing of the agency that Mohsin Baig had “shattered his public image by relating a baseless story with derogatory remarks.”

The arrest was challenged in the court the same day and Additional Sessions Judge of Islamabad (West) Zafar Iqbal after a preliminary hearing declared FIA’s raid as illegal conducted by “irrelevant persons.”

In another case registered by Islamabad police, however, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) granted 3-day remand of Mohsin Baig for allegedly torturing and firing at an official of the FIA team.

The dramatic arrest of Baig who is seen as an influential media personality has become a hot subject of TV talk shows dominating even the record hike in prices of petroleum products.

It all began a few days ago when during a talk-show Mohsin Baig who is no longer a friend of Imran Khan, rather has turned into a ruthless critic of his policies, made a reference to Khan’s ex-wife Reham Khan who in her book made scathing remarks about Murad Saeed’s conduct.

While replying to a question by the anchor that how he viewed performance of Murad Saeed whose ministry (Communication) was recently ranked first in terms of performance, he said Murad Saeed’s “performance” can be judged in the light of Reham Khan’s book.

Immediately after the TV show, the government while retaliating first closed down the TV channel — News One — and later decided to move against Mohsin Baig through the FIA Cyber Wing.

Images of the scuffle between Baig and FIA officials are taking rounds on social media, showing how he was pointing a gun at a plain-clothed man grabbing him from the other hand.

Police also arrested Hamza Baig, son of Mohsin Baig Thursday morning. Both the father and the son and filed a First Information Report (FIA) under Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

According to a press release issued by the investigation agency, the FIA’s Cyber Crime Circle raided Baig’s house after obtaining a search and seizure warrant from the relevant court.

“During the raid, Mohsin Baig and his son and servants directly fired at the FIA team and took two officials hostage,” the press release said. It added that Baig was arrested after he ran out of bullets and was taken to Margalla police station where legal proceedings were underway.