Tag: Asad Toor

  • Imran Khan angry at PTI leaders for disowning controversial 1971 post: Asad Toor

    Imran Khan angry at PTI leaders for disowning controversial 1971 post: Asad Toor

    Journalist Asad Toor recently revealed on his YouTube channel that the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan got angry at party leaders because they did not support PTI’s social media team over the controversial Fall of Dhaka post.

    “If you cannot fight, then leave the party,” exclaimed Khan to party members who visited him in Adiala Jail, Toor said.

    “You guys are not fighting but our social media team is, and nobody will disown them. Do not speak ill of them,” Imran reportedly told his party members.

    Earlier this week, Khan’s social media account uploaded a video regarding the 1971 Fall of Dhaka and drew a reference between Mujeeb ur Rehman and Imran Khan. It also called the military actions atrocities.

    PTI leaders scrambled to try and do some damage control by disassociating Imran Khan from the post, claiming he had no control over his social media.

  • ‘I cannot sleep’; Hafeezullah Niazi tearfully appeals to court for recovery of son Hassan

    ‘I cannot sleep’; Hafeezullah Niazi tearfully appeals to court for recovery of son Hassan

    Journalist Asad Toor wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday that political analyst Hafeezullah Niazi appealed before the Supreme Court’s (SC) six-member bench for the safe recovery of his son, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Hassaan Niazi.

    Hafeezullah Niazi told the apex court, “My son Hassaan Niazi has been missing from military custody since seven to eight days. I’m not even allowed to see him. I don’t know where my son is. Will I be able to sleep at night?”

    Tearfully, he told the court, “You (judges) cannot feel what I feel, I cannot sleep all night.”
    The SC directed Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan to meet Niazi and tackle the matter of the PTI activist.

    Hassaan Niazi is also the nephew of former prime minister and founder of the PTI, Imran Khan. He has been in military custody in link with the May 9 violence in which he was filmed with the Corps Commander Lahore’s uniform, taken from Jinnah House during riots.

  • Court grants bail to journalist Asad Toor in anti-judiciary campaign

    Court grants bail to journalist Asad Toor in anti-judiciary campaign

    Special Judge Central Humayun Dilawar granted bail to vlogger Asad Toor on Saturday in a case pertaining to allegations of running a malicious campaign against the judiciary.

    Ishtiaq Hussain Shah, the special prosecutor for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), went to court and said the agency doesn’t oppose giving bail to the vlogger.

    The bail was granted against surety bonds worth Rs5,000.

    Separately, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) also declared call-up notices issued to Toor by the FIA against the law.

    IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued a seven-page written order regarding the vlogger’s plea against the FIA notices. He stated that the FIR was filed because notices were wrongly issued.

    The judge maintained that the relevant forum can be approached once the FIR is registered, adding that the court cannot order Toor’s release due to the bar on taking suo motu action.

  • Chief Justice wants to send contempt of court notice to FIA in Asad Toor case

    Chief Justice wants to send contempt of court notice to FIA in Asad Toor case

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa expressed concerns on Monday on the use of the Supreme Court’s name in initiating action against journalist and vlogger Asad Toor, highlighting discrepancies in the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

    “The inquiry notice [sent to Asad Toor] stated that he is being summoned in an inquiry related to an anti-judiciary campaign whereas the FIR didn’t even mention as such,” CJP Isa said.

    During a hearing of a suo motu case, a three-member Supreme Court bench, comprising CJP Isa, Justice Muhammed Ali Mazhar, and Justice Mussarat Hilali, addressed issues of journalists’ harassment over FIA summons related to the Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) probe into an alleged anti-judiciary campaign.

    On January 17, the then-caretaker government formed a JIT to investigate a social media campaign targeting Supreme Court judges following a verdict on the election symbol of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). However, the court intervened after FIA summons were sent to journalists and prohibited action against individuals criticizing the apex court.

    Despite the court’s intervention, Toor was arrested by the FIA on February 26 in connection with the alleged smear campaign against the Supreme Court and CJP and is currently in custody.

    During the hearing, Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed, representing the Press Association of the Supreme Court (PAS) and the Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA), informed the court of Toor’s incarceration.

    The CJP questioned the reasons behind Toor’s imprisonment, prompting the lawyer to refer to the FIR against the journalist and request the court to invalidate the government’s notification forming the JIT.

    CJP Isa raised concerns about the charges in the FIR against Toor, particularly those related to sensitive information, questioning their relevance and applicability.

    Highlighting the discrepancies in the FIA’s notice and the FIR against Toor, CJP Isa said: “Neither any SC judge nor the registrar had filed any complaint to the FIA”.

    “The officials of FIA are bringing disrepute to the judiciary,” the chief justice observed while lamenting the prospects of the judiciary’s image being tarnished before the public.

    “Why shouldn’t we send a notice to the FIA for contempt of court?” he questioned.

    Furthermore, the top judge admonished the Inspector General Police (IGP) Islamabad for failing to make progress in apprehending suspects despite video evidence, hinting at the possibility of the IGP’s dismissal for inadequate performance.

  • Arrested journalist Asad Toor goes on hunger strike

    Arrested journalist Asad Toor goes on hunger strike

    Journalist and vlogger Asad Toor has initiated a hunger strike following his detention by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on charges related to his social media activities.

    Toor’s lawyer, Hadi Ali Chatta, disclosed on Thursday that the vlogger has abstained from eating since the past 36 hours. The update on Toor’s health came after his mother was permitted to visit him on court orders at the FIA office.

    “@AsadAToor specifically told me that he is not being asked any questions regarding the judiciary but is asked about his vlogs against military and questions are being asked about specific generals and vlogs against them . Questions are sent in the FIA office on a “parchi” and @AsadAToor‘s answers are also sent out thru a “parchi” . He is on hunger strike and has refused to eat anything for the last 36 hours. Last night rescue 1122 had to be called because of his deteriorating health,” wrote Hadi on X (former Twitter).

    Concerns about Toor’s well-being escalated when he fell ill last night, prompting the FIA to call in rescue personnel. However, despite his deteriorating health, Toor has not been questioned about the alleged anti-judiciary campaign but rather about his vlogs concerning other individuals, as indicated by his legal representation.

    Imaan Mazari, another lawyer representing Toor, emphasized that the ongoing investigation does not pertain to contempt of judges.

    “On court order, counsels & @AsadAToor’s mother were allowed to meet him today in FIA CCRC Isb. He is on hunger strike and though his spirits are high, he is physically very weak. We are very concerned abt his health. Not a single q in investigation has been on subject of enquiry,” wrote Imaan on X (former Twitter).

    The situation unfolded further on Tuesday when Judicial Magistrate Islamabad Muhammad Shabbir remanded the vlogger into custody for five days, with a directive for the agency to present him again on March 3, 2024.

    During the hearing, Toor, identifying himself as a journalist, refused to surrender his mobile phone. He asserted that he had appeared before the FIA twice and had received the notice on February 24. Moreover, he mentioned that he had challenged the call-up notice in the high court and arrived at the FIA office with the court’s order on February 26 to inquire about the FIR and the allegations against him.

    The FIR against Toor alleges that he conducted a malicious campaign against the judiciary on social media platforms, specifically X and YouTube, fueling anti-state activities. Consequently, he has been booked under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016.

    Toor’s detention and subsequent hunger strike have sparked concerns among human rights advocates and journalists regarding freedom of expression and press freedom in Pakistan.

  • FIA arrests Asad Toor in connection with campaign against judges

    FIA arrests Asad Toor in connection with campaign against judges

    Prominent journalist Asad Ali Toor was arrested on Monday by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in connection with a campaign against Supreme Court (SC) judges, including Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa.

    His counsel, Imaan Mazari confirmed the arrest to Geo.tv.

    Last month, the caretaker government formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) comprised of six members to investigate a negative campaign against judges of apex court. 

    Imaan Mazari told Geo.tv that FIA officials detained Toor for eight hours on Friday, February 23 after he appeared before the JIT for questioning, even though he hadn’t received a formal notice as per the standard procedure.

    “We went to high court on Monday in the morning, and the chief justice, even though I specifically told him about the eight-hour detention and that there’s a real apprehension of arrest because they have threatened us as well, said that he cannot do anything based on apprehensions,” she added.

    After the hearing in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Mazari stated that she went to the FIA office at 4:46 pm while Asad was being interrogated inside.

    On Tuesday morning, Asad was presented before the magistrate, however, his lawyers were not present there.

  • FIA grills Asad Toor for hours in probe into anti-judiciary campaign

    FIA grills Asad Toor for hours in probe into anti-judiciary campaign

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) interrogated vlogger Asad Ali Toor for hours about a social media campaign that criticized the superior judiciary. This happened after the Supreme Court (SC) made a decision regarding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ‘bat’ symbol, as reported by The News on Saturday.
    A five-member joint investigation team (JIT) of the FIA has been conducting an inquiry to ascertain the facts behind an ongoing “malicious” campaign against the honourable judges of the apex court.

    JIT sources said on Friday that two bloggers, Asad Ali Toor and Imran Riaz, were found to be trolling judges of the top court, particularly Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa.

    “Asad Toor was rounded up for investigation on Friday and his statement was recorded about his motives behind the malicious campaign against the judges,” the sources said, adding that the journalist remained with the JIT at the FIA (Cybercrime Wing), along with his counsel and human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir.

    Imaan Mazari posted on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, saying that Toor and his legal team left the FIA Friday evening after his detention the same morning at 10:50am.

  • Imran Riaz is missing again: Three possible reasons why we don’t know where he is right now

    Imran Riaz is missing again: Three possible reasons why we don’t know where he is right now

    Youtuber Imran Riaz Khan is under arrest once again and Pakistanis have a lot to say

    The reason for YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan’s arrest is currently disputed. The journalist was arrested Thursday night.

    Here are three possibilities behind his arrest:

    1. Earlier, Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing had summoned Khan and journalist Asad Toor, for allegedly being a part of an anti-judiciary campaign on social media platforms, calling them to appear on February 23.

    2. According to court reporter A. Waheed Murad, Imran Riaz has been summoned by Lahore court to present his defence for taking the Darabi Lake contract along with his father in Lahore court.

    3. While his detention is being condemned, he is being criticised for recently resharing an inflammatory post on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision to grant bail to a member of Ahmadiyya community which sparked severe backlash.

    Khan is being criticised for further inciting hate and violence by resharing a hateful post.

    Even though the original post was deleted, his apparent endorsement remains condemnable.