Pakistani Sikh journalist granted bail after being accused of ‘anti-state’ propaganda

The picture shared on X by Shakeel Qarar on December 13, 2024, shows Harmeet Singh, a Pakistani Sikh journalist from Peshawar. (Shakeel Qarar)
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Updated 14 December 2024
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Pakistani Sikh journalist granted bail after being accused of ‘anti-state’ propaganda

  • Harmeet Singh was accused of leading a ‘misleading campaign’ against Pakistan’s institutions during last month’s protests by ex-PM Khan’s party
  • The protests resulted in clashes that government says killed four law enforcers, while Khan’s party says 12 supporters were killed in crackdown

KARACHI: A special court in Islamabad on Saturday granted a week-long, pre-arrest bail to Harmeet Singh, a Pakistani Sikh journalist from Peshawar, after he was accused by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of launching a “misleading campaign” against Pakistan’s state institutions and security agencies during last month’s protest by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party in the Pakistani capital.

Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Nov. 24 led thousands of supporters to Islamabad, seeking to pressure the government to release the ex-premier from jail and order an audit of Feb. 8 national election results. The protests resulted in clashes that Pakistan’s government says killed four law enforcers and injured hundreds of others.

The PTI says at least 12 of its supporters were killed and another 37 sustained gunshot injuries due to firing by law enforcers near Islamabad’s Jinnah Avenue on Nov. 26, while 139 of its supporters were still “missing.” Pakistani authorities have denied the deaths, saying security personnel had not been carrying live ammunition during the protest.

In a case registered against Singh, the FIA said the journalist built “false narrative and propagated misleading, concocted and baseless campaign against State Institutions and Security Agencies of Pakistan,” and promoted it through his X account on various instances, including the incident of Nov 24-27, when Khan supporters clashed with law enforcers in Islamabad.

“These false cases are meant to suppress the voices that criticize the government for its wrongdoings,” Singh said on Saturday, after being granted pre-arrest bail by the Islamabad court till Dec. 21.

The Sikh journalist said the charges against him were part of a “broader effort” to silence critics of the government.

“Their wish has always been to break the mirror that we hold up. It is our duty to show them the mirror, and we will keep showing it,” he added.

Singh, one of the few Pakistani Sikh journalists and anchors who has been critical of the government and Pakistan’s powerful military, is widely recognized for his outspoken stance on political issues.

The development comes weeks after police booked another journalist, Matiullah Jan, on charges that he was found in possession of 246 grams of narcotic methamphetamine (crystal meth) when his vehicle was stopped at the capital’s E-9 area.

Jan, a broadcaster working with Neo TV, was “picked up” from outside a hospital in Islamabad, where he was investigating alleged fatalities during the recent protests in support of jailed ex-premier Imran Khan, according to his son. He was released three days later.

A recent report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) ranked Pakistan as the 12th-worst country for press freedom in South Asia. According to the CPJ, 103 journalists and media workers have been killed in Pakistan between 1992 and 2024.

In recent years, journalists in Pakistan have complained of increasing government and military censorship, intimidation and harassment as well as digital abuse. Authorities deny they persecute journalists. This has been an especially dangerous year for the press in Pakistan, with at least six journalists killed in direct or suspected relation to their work, the CPJ said in October.

Arab News approached the FIA and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar but they did not respond to requests for comment.

“The contents promulgated through his [Singh’s] tweets are inciting the general public of Pakistan toward the acts of violence and terrorism, and are coercing general public to commit offenses against the State Institutions and Security / Law Enforcement Agencies,” the FIA said in its report against the Sikh journalist, adding that they tended to create “a sense of fear, panic and insecurity” among people.

The FIA lodged the case against Singh under sections 9 (glorification of an offense), 10 (cyber terrorism), 11 (electronic forgery) and 24 (legal recognition of offenses) of Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and section 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Singh’s lawyer, Beena Faraz, condemned the government’s treatment of journalists, saying that “intimidation and harassment of the press have been a constant” in Pakistan’s history.

“If such things are happening under this government, they have happened in the past as well. It is part of every era to abduct journalists, intimidate them, and silence them through harassment,” she added.


Pakistani PM, Turkish president discuss Middle East crisis, express ‘unwavering solidarity’ with Palestinians

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Pakistani PM, Turkish president discuss Middle East crisis, express ‘unwavering solidarity’ with Palestinians

  • Turkish President Erdogan meets Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad
  • Development takes place as life limps back to normalcy in war-ravaged Palestine

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan voiced “unwavering solidarity” with the Palestinian people, Sharif’s office said on Thursday, reiterating Palestinians’ right to self-determination under a two-state solution. 

The development takes place as life limps to normalcy in war-ravaged Gaza, where Israel killed at least 48,000 people during the 15-month war triggered by Hamas’ surprise attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Around 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 were taken as hostages in Hamas’ lightening offensive. 

Israel and Hamas last month reached an uneasy truce that has halted 15 months of war between the two sides. Aid trucks continue to supply food and medicines to the Palestinian people in Gaza as the fragile truce holds. 

The recent interaction between Erdogan and Sharif follows the Turkish president’s bilateral meeting with Sharif. Erdogan arrived in Pakistan late Wednesday for a two-day visit to boost trade and investment ties between the countries. 

“Both leaders also discussed recent developments in the Middle East during the course of which they expressed unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. 

He reiterated Pakistan’s call for a two-state solution with an independent and sovereign state of Palestine with pre-1967 borders and Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital, Sharif’s office said. 

The statement also comes in the wake of recent controversial remarks by American President Donald Trump to resettle Gaza’s Palestinian residents and redevelop the enclave.

Under Trump’s scheme, Gaza’s about 2.2 million Palestinians would be resettled in Egypt, Jordan and other countries, and the United States would take control and ownership of the coastal territory, redeveloping it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan also expressed concern in a phone call about Trump’s proposal to displace Palestinians from Gaza.

Trump’s comments have been rejected by Egypt and Jordan, while Arab countries and Pakistan have strongly criticized it. 
 


Police charge Pakistan couple with murder of child maid

Updated 13 February 2025
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Police charge Pakistan couple with murder of child maid

  • Iqra, 13, was taken to hospital in city of Rawalpindi on Tuesday in a critical condition and later died of severe injuries.
  • Rashid Shafiq and his wife Sana were charged with murder, remanded in custody for four days to allow for investigation

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani couple appeared in court on Thursday accused of murdering a child maid, who police said they beat with a rolling pin for allegedly stealing chocolate.
Thirteen-year-old Iqra, who had only one name, was taken to hospital in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Tuesday in a critical condition and later died of severe injuries.
A spokesman for Rawalpindi police said Rashid Shafiq and his wife Sana, who also goes by one name, were charged with murder and remanded in custody for four days to allow for an investigation.
“Initially it was ascertained that the lady used a rolling pin for torture,” spokesman Sajjad ul Hassan told AFP.
“The victim had multiple fractures; legs, ankle, arms, head. All this happened due to a missing chocolate,” he said.
Child labor in domestic work remains widespread in Pakistan, according to an International Labour Organization report from 2022, with one in every four households employing a child in domestic work, predominantly girls aged 10-14.
It is illegal to employ individuals under the age of 15 but it remains a common practice, with impoverished parents often sending their young daughters to work.
Iqra’s father Sana Ullah, who lives in a rural Punjab village, told AFP that his daughter had been working with the couple for the past 22 months, during which they paid him 8,000 rupees (around $28) a month.
“The beasts tortured my daughter in a way that no human could ever do,” he told AFP.
“I demand justice for this brutality.”
Domestic workers frequently face exploitation, violence and sexual abuse, with Pakistan’s patriarchal and rigid social-class structure leaving them without a voice.
In the past, parents frequently forgave the accused through out-of-court settlements under Islamic law, which allows the victim’s heirs to either seek retribution or accept compensation in the form of blood money.
Prosecutions for housemaid abuse are rare despite media attention on high-profile cases, with perpetrators facing few or no consequences.
In 2020, a couple in the same city was arrested for allegedly murdering their seven-year-old maid, who was blamed for letting a pet bird escape.


‘Block that noise,’ ex-captain Sarfaraz advises Pakistan to hold nerves during India clash 

Updated 13 February 2025
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‘Block that noise,’ ex-captain Sarfaraz advises Pakistan to hold nerves during India clash 

  • Pakistan face India on Feb. 23 in Dubai for Champions Trophy 2025 Group A clash 
  • Under Sarfaraz Ahmed’s leadership in 2017, Pakistan beat India to win Champions Trophy

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan cricket captain Sarfaraz Ahmed advised the green shirts to head into their highly anticipated Champions Trophy clash against India by keeping their nerves in check and avoiding the added pressure, the International Cricket Council (ICC) reported on Thursday. 

India and Pakistan will take the field against each other in Dubai on Feb. 23 for their Champions Trophy Group A clash. One of the fiercest rivalries in sport, cricket matches between the two countries draw thousands to stadiums across the world, and millions to TV sets. 

Pakistan will begin their title defense against New Zealand on Feb. 19 in Karachi. Under Ahmed’s leadership in 2017, Pakistan beat India to lift the Champions Trophy that year in a one-sided clash. 

“Whenever we meet, it is a special occasion and there is so much hype and pressure around it,” Ahmed wrote in a column for the ICC.

“But as players, you need to stay calm, try and block that noise out, and just play with the same intensity as you would play Australia or any other team.”

Ahmed said Pakistan have a strong team and a really good chance of successfully defending the trophy. 

“Some of the boys from 2017 are still there and we’re talking about some of the best – especially Babar Azam,” he said, referring to Pakistan’s most prolific ODI batter. 

Ahmed noted that Azam was more mature and formidable than he was in 2017. 

“His batting will be so important for Pakistan and so will Fakhar Zaman’s,” he said, referring to Pakistan’s left-handed aggressive opening batter. 

He said left-armer Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf are both “brilliant bowlers.”

“The captain, Mohammad Rizwan, is also a wicketkeeper-batter, which worked pretty well for me back in 2017!” he said. 

The green shirts will face New Zealand in the final of an ongoing tri-nation series involving South Africa on Friday in Karachi. 

The tri-nation series is a warm-up before the Champions Trophy kicks off next week. 


Opposition party writes to IMF on ‘electoral rigging’ as mission in Pakistan to assess governance

Updated 13 February 2025
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Opposition party writes to IMF on ‘electoral rigging’ as mission in Pakistan to assess governance

  • PTI’s Omar Ayub highlights the importance of transparency for economic and political stability in the note
  • He expresses hope that rule of law and democratic integrity will be a priority in IMF’s dealings with Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party wrote to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday, urging it to take note of alleged election rigging and the manipulation of the democratic system in Pakistan.
The letter, penned by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, comes as a three-member IMF mission visits Pakistan for a Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment (GCDA) under the country’s $7 billion loan program.
The assessment, running until Feb. 14, aims to evaluate vulnerabilities in six key state functions, including fiscal governance, central bank operations, financial sector oversight, market regulation, rule of law and anti-money laundering efforts.
PTI has consistently complained of widespread irregularities in last year’s national elections, claiming they were used to deprive the party of its mandate. It has also protested a systematic crackdown on its leaders and supporters, arguing that a recent constitutional amendment has weakened the judicial system, leaving them without legal recourse.
“I write to you at a crucial juncture when the IMF mission is assessing Pakistan’s economic and governance framework, with transparency and the rule of law being fundamental concerns,” Ayub said in the letter addressed to IMF country head Mahir Binici.
“In this context, enclosed is a dossier that has been submitted to the Honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan, detailing undeniable evidence of widespread electoral rigging in the 2024 General Elections,” he continued.
Ayub emphasized the importance of transparency for economic and political stability, asserting that his party’s concerns should be brought to the attention of international institutions monitoring governance in Pakistan.
“We trust that upholding the rule of law and democratic integrity will remain a priority in all engagements concerning Pakistan’s future,” he added, offering Binici the opportunity to meet PTI leaders for further details.
Ayub’s letter follows an unprecedented meeting between the IMF team and Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi on Feb. 11, where they discussed judicial reforms, accountability and the recent controversial restructuring of a commission responsible for recommending judges to Pakistan’s superior courts.
This is not the first time PTI has reached out to the IMF with grievances following its removal from power in April 2022 through a no-confidence vote.
Last year, Imran Khan himself wrote to the global lender, urging it to carefully review the election results before approving new financial assistance for Islamabad. Despite PTI’s concerns, Pakistan secured a $7 billion loan from the IMF in September 2024.
In 2022, an audio leak featuring PTI’s former finance minister Shaukat Tarin also surfaced, in which he advised a provincial PTI leader in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to inform the IMF that Pakistan’s government would not be able to fulfill its loan repayment commitments.
The party came under severe criticism, with its rivals accusing it of working against the economic interests of Pakistan.


Pakistan hopeful Champions Trophy will bring more big events

Updated 13 February 2025
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Pakistan hopeful Champions Trophy will bring more big events

  • Top teams shunned Pakistan after 2009 attack on bus carrying Sri Lankan cricket players in Lahore 
  • Pakistan last hosted ICC event in 1996 when that year’s 50-over-World Cup was played in sub continent 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will host a first major multi-country cricket tournament in nearly three decades next week and its cricket chief is hopeful that a successful Champions Trophy will bring a flood of other such events.
Top teams shunned Pakistan after the 2009 attack on a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore, forcing them to relocate home matches, mostly to the United Arab Emirates.
It took the Pakistan Cricket Board years to convince foreign counterparts that it was safe to visit. Touring sides began returning after the board successfully staged its own T20 league, with several foreign players, on home soil in 2017.
“The ICC (International Cricket Council) Champions Trophy 2025 is a culmination of those efforts,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told Reuters.
“Our successful hosting of this event will further enhance Pakistan’s credentials, positioning us as a strong contender for more ICC events in the next events cycle.”
Pakistan staged the 1996 World Cup after winning the previous edition of cricket’s marquee event but the country’s fortunes crumbled with the rise of militancy following war in neighboring Afghanistan.

’SECURE AND WELL-MANAGED’
“Security has long ceased to be a concern for visiting teams as we have consistently demonstrated our ability to provide a safe, secure and well-managed environment for international cricket,” said Naqvi, who also doubles as the country’s internal security chief.
“Once we successfully staged home international series and consistently delivered PSL (Pakistan Super League) editions at world-class standards, the ICC accepted and recognized Pakistan’s readiness to host a global event,” he said.
“Since 2019, all major Test-playing nations — except India — have toured Pakistan, some multiple times.”
Naqvi said multiple visits by England and New Zealand and the growing number of international players in the PSL were an endorsement. “As a result, they are already familiar with Pakistan’s world-class playing conditions, operational efficiency and robust security measures.”
But he acknowledged that staging a multi-team event was tougher than hosting a single team.
“The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been a monumental task, requiring extensive preparations in a limited timeframe. Our stadiums last underwent significant renovations for the 1996 World Cup, and since then, the global cricketing landscape has evolved tremendously.”
The PCB has upgraded two main grounds in Karachi and Lahore for the event in an 11th-hour facelift.