An Islamabad district and sessions court has recently remanded journalist Muhammad Khalid Jamil in the custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for a period of two days following his arrest on charges of spreading a so-called “provocative narrative” against state institutions through his social media posts.
Jamil’s arrest has sparked controversy as members of the journalist community question the basis for his detention. Journalist Maria Memon expressed her concern about the FIA’s quick action in this case and the inconsistency in their response to other online harassment cases. Renowned journalist and columnist Nusrat Javed also raised doubts about the grounds for Jamil’s arrest, suggesting that the government needed to provide a credible narrative to justify his detention. Furthermore, experienced journalist Mubashir Zaidi joined the voices against the arrest, calling for Jamil’s immediate release.
The FIA, in its statement, cited Section 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), which criminalizes intentionally and publicly exhibiting or transmitting any false information through any information system, with the intent to harm a person’s reputation or privacy. The FIR also listed Section 505 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which addresses the dissemination of statements causing public mischief.
The FIA accused Jamil of knowingly misinterpreting and spreading false, misleading, and baseless information, likely to incite fear amongst the public and provoke offenses against state institutions. However, the agency did not disclose the identities of other individuals involved in the alleged crime.
According to the FIA, the dissemination of such misleading content through social media accounts aims to create a rift between the general public and state institutions, ultimately harming the state of Pakistan. The agency claims that these actions are an attempt to provoke the general public against judiciary and other state institutions, creating a sense of ill-will amongst the pillars of the state.
The journalist community has strongly condemned Khalid Jamil’s arrest, demanding a clear explanation for the actions taken against him. This incident has raised concerns about the freedom of expression and the crackdown on dissenting voices in the country.
As the case unfolds, many will be closely watching for updates and the outcome of Khalid Jamil’s trial. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate surrounding the balance between freedom of speech and the responsibility to prevent the spread of harmful and false information.