Tag: Mohsin Baig

  • I will not be the caretaker prime minister: Mohsin Baig

    I will not be the caretaker prime minister: Mohsin Baig

    Journalist Mohsin Biag on Sunday has denied rumors in Saleem Safi’s programme Jirga that he will be the next caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan, stating that he would not assume the coveted position.

    Rumours of Baig becoming caretaker Prime Minister had been circulating in media and political circles for the past few weeks.

    The journalist criticised former Prime Minister Imran Khan by accusing him of being corrupt, alleging that Europe and Israel are behind the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and are using him against Pakistan.

    The well-known journalist said that the attacks on military installations on May 9 were planned by Imran Khan to weaken the state.

    He also mentioned that Imran Khan didn’t give PTI tickets to eligible candidates and made a lot of money in this way

  • Mohsin Baig case: Court says FIA misused its power, issues show-cause notice

    Mohsin Baig case: Court says FIA misused its power, issues show-cause notice

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued show-cause notice to the Director of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) cybercrime wing, Babar Bakht Qureshi, on Monday for misusing FIA’s powers in the arrest case of journalist Mohsin Jamil Baig.

    The FIA cybercrime wing and the police arrested and raided Daily Jinnah and Online news agency Editor Mohsin Baig’s house. He was accused of initiating a debate on News One’s programme ‘G for Gharidah’. He made some controversial references towards Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Minister for Communication Murad Saeed.

    IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah asked, “Why should we not register contempt of court case against the FIA? Do they think they are above the law?”

    During the hearing, Justice Minallah grilled the FIA director, reminding him that the court had told the agency to not make arrests. “This court will take action against you. Your job is to protect people and not to restore the reputation of an elite person.”

    Justice Minallah also posed some questions related to the arrest. He asked Qureshi that when there were four people in the programme, why only Baig was arrested.

    Justice Minallah further said that the agency has always abused its authority, adding that the court will not allow the FIA to infringe on anyone’s fundamental rights.

    When asked about PM Khan’s ex-wife Reham Khan’s book and which reference was given by Baig in the show. Additional Attorney General Qasim Wadood, who was present before the court, replied that he had not read the book.

    “Does everyone know what is written in the book?”, CJ asked.

    Justice Minallah said that this court has repeatedly said that you should be careful but the message being given is that there is no freedom of expression.

    However, the Director of FIA continued his argument that the reference to the book is defamatory and added, “We must discourage obscenity.”

    CJ Minallah stated that the biggest obscenity is not respecting the constitution, adding that prohibition is an abuse of power.

    Responding to contempt of court notice, Quershi pleaded to the CJ, saying we are like your children, have mercy. To which the CJ responded, “You are not my child and I am not your father.”

    Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned and Justice Minallah asked Qureshi to submit his response. The court also summoned Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan in the next hearing on February 24. Previously, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) approved the three-day remand of journalist Mohsin Baig.

  • Attorney General of Pakistan denies filing reference against Islamabad judge in Mohsin Baig case

    Attorney General of Pakistan denies filing reference against Islamabad judge in Mohsin Baig case

    Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed Khan has denied filing a reference against Islamabad’s Additional Session Judge Zafar Iqbal over his verdict in journalist Mohsin Baig’s case.

    Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’, the AGP said that the government is not going to file a reference against Zafar Iqbal.

    AGP Khalid Javed was of the view that a review petition can be filed against the verdict but not a reference.

    References cannot be filed based on a judge’s verdicts, nor should be unless evidence or appellate court decision proves the judge’s misconduct, added Khalid Javed.

    On Thursday, the government decided to file a reference against Zafar Iqbal for declaring the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) raid illegal at senior journalist Mohsin Baig’s home.

    Advocate General (AG) Islamabad Niazullah Niazi met Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and briefed him about the case hearing.

    Niazullah Niazi said that a reference would be filed against the judge soon. He said that Mohsin Baig had pointed a gun at FIA and police officials besides threatening the on-duty officers. “Being a media person does not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands.”

    AG Islamabad further stated that PM Imran Khan has said that no one is above the law.

    “Everyone is equal before the law. Constructive criticism is beneficial for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government,” said PM Khan.

  • Journalist vs PTI’s Murad Saeed: Govt plans to go after judge for declaring FIA raid on Mohsin Baig’s house illegal

    Journalist vs PTI’s Murad Saeed: Govt plans to go after judge for declaring FIA raid on Mohsin Baig’s house illegal

    The government has decided to file a reference against Islamabad’s Additional Session Judge Zafar Iqbal for declaring the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) raid illegal at senior journalist Mohsin Baig’s home.

     Advocate General (AG) Islamabad Niazullah Niazi met Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and briefed him about the case hearing.

    Niazullah Niazi said that a reference would be filed against the judge soon. He said that Mohsin Baig had pointed a gun at FIA and police officials besides threatening the on-duty officers. “Being a media person does not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands.”

    AG Islamabad further stated that Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that no one is above the law.

    “Everyone is equal before the law. Constructive criticism is beneficial for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government,” said PM Khan.

    Speaking on Geo News Programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, AG Islamabad Niazullah Niazi said, “We will approach Chief Justice Islamabad High Court (IHC) regarding the session court judge’s verdict.”

    Anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada questioned Advocate General Niazi if all this is really about the rule of law or is it what the government wants.

    Niazi responded: “We all know how much the prime minister has worked for the rule of law. If a proceeding is happening against someone, and the law is there in the constitution, why would someone want that the proceeding to stop?”

    Khanzada interjected and asked: “You say that the prime minister has done a lot for rule of law. The premier always reiterates that nations are destroyed where there is one law for the strong and another for the weak. A federal minister files a complaint at 9am in Lahore and at 9:30am, a raid takes place in Islamabad. Several cases are pending but prompt action was taken in this case. A judge who declared the raid illegal face references. Is this what rule of law is?”

    “No illegal action will be taken against any judge,” responded Niazullah Niazi.

    “You are pressuring the judiciary in this manner, the judge who gives verdict against you, you are taking action against them in return,” added Khanzada.

     Niazi further stated that the reference against the session judge will not jeopardise the independence of the judiciary.

    Neither the prime minister nor the lawyer accepts any kind of pressure on the judiciary, but no one should be above the law, he said.

    Khanzada further said, “Is this really rule of law or fascism?”

    The FIA cybercrime wing and the police arrested Daily Jinnah and Online news agency Editor Mohsin Jamil Baig on Wednesday. FIA raided the journalist’s house in the federal capital along with the police and took him into custody.

    Baig was accused of initiating a debate on a television show with some controversial references towards PM Imran Khan and Minister for Communication Murad Saeed.