The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing has arrested journalist Mohsin Baig from his residence in Islamabad over criticism of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Government, specifically Communications Minister Murad Saeed, who apparently registered a complaint against the journalist.
According to a press release issued by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), their Cyber Crime team raided Mohsin 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 made two officials hostage,”
Mohsin Baig was arrested by the personnel after he ran out of bullets and he was taken to the Margalla Police Station, where legal proceeding are underway. The video of the confrontation was shared on social media by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill.
In the video, Mohsin Baig was seen toting a gun, while manhandling an unidentified individual and kicking him down to his knees. The journalist was also seen assuming a shooting stance and gunshots were heard as well. The video of the incident has gone viral on social media with people criticizing the journalist.
یہ ہیں محسن بیگ۔ یہ ہے حقیقت۔ یہ سمجھتے ہیں یہ قانون کو pic.twitter.com/1CmIWZyW3j
— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) February 16, 2022
It is pertinent to mention that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said it conducted the raid on the complaint of Communications Minister Murad Saeed, who had registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Mohsin Baig at the Cyber Crime Wing of the agency in Lahore.
The FIR was registered under Sections 20 (offences against the dignity of a natural person), 21-D (offences against modesty of a natural person and minor) and 24 (cyber stalking) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 read with Sections 500 (defaming army officers) and 555 (statement conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The report stated that Mohsin Baig had Murad Saeed’s character by using immoral and abusive language on live television and related a “baseless story with derogatory remarks” which was subsequently shared on social media and damaged the minister’s public image.
It bears mentioning that Mohsin Baig had questioned the government’s decision to name Federal Minister Murad Saeed as one of the top performing federal ministers. The panelists at the talk show also made several critical remarks about the federal minister, insinuating that some ‘other factors’ were at play behind the award rather than his ministry’s performance.
Following the arrest of Mohsin Baig, his lawyer, Raheel Niazi, filed a petition against the ‘illegal detention’ of the journalist, which was heard by Additional Sessions Judge Justice Zafar Iqbal. The lawyer informed the judge that people in plainclothes had come to the journalist’s house today and took him with them.
He added that the personnel also failed to present any arrest warrants and search warrants from the SP and DS. The lawyer said that these individuals smashed mobile phones and hit children at the house as well, while taking Mohsin Baig with them to Margalla Police Station.
However, the arrest of Mohsin Baig has been condemned by the opposition with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari calling it Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “weakness,” PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif has also spoken against the arrest on Twitter.
Arrest of Mohsin Baig, once a fast friend of IK, shows how panicked the regime is. Niazi sb gives long sermons on democray & morality but cannot stand even minor criticism. Free speech has vastly been curtailed in last 3.5 years of his rule. It is worst time in nation's history.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 16, 2022
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