Journalist Arshad Sharif has been charged with making derogatory remarks about state institutions, according to a first information report (FIR).
The case was filed at a B-section police station in Hyderabad, with police claiming that he was arrested for criticizing state institutions.
“Sections 505, 153, and 131 of the penal laws apply to his remarks during Matiullah Jan’s show,” the police said, adding that the case was opened after a man named Tayyab Hussain filed a complaint.
In April, anchorman Moeed Pirzada claimed that men in plainclothes, ostensibly from the Federal Investigation Agency, barged into Arshad Sharif’s home and harassed his family.
Later, Arshad Sharif filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordering the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the capital police to stop harassing anchorpersons and other journalists.
According to Sharif’s lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, the anchor told him to come to court last night because “he was being harassed.”
“Last night, people in civilian uniform went to Arshad Sharif’s house. Since last night, I have not had any direct contact with Arshad Sharif,” the lawyer said. He also claimed that “illegal actions” were being taken against Sabir Shakir, another ARY News anchor.
Sharif had also instructed the lawyer to file the petition, according to the lawyer. The petitioner was suspicious of the FIA’s desire to detain Sharif illegally, according to the court.
