Journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat ‘arrested’ by FIA

Senior journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat went missing on Saturday morning from Lahore.

Hamid took to Twitter and confirmed the news. “Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crimes Wing Lahore kidnapped journalist Amir Mir in Lahore this morning.”

FIA Cyber Crimes Wing Lahore kidnapped journalist Amir Mir in Lahore this morning, snatched his phone and laptop. We came to know about his location after 5 hours. FIA also arrested another journalist Syed Shafqat Imran this morning from Lahore. #PressFreedom

— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) August 7, 2021

“We came to know about his location after 5 hours. FIA snatched his [Amir Mir’s] phone and laptop,” read the tweet. Amir Mir is Hamid Mir’s brother.

Hamid Mir also wrote about the disappearance of Imran Shafqat, stating that FIA arrested him as well.

Meanwhile, Imran Shafqat was arrested from his house by use of force. As per reports, around10 people, both men, and women barged into his residence, raided his place, and took him away.

Talking to BBC, Imran Shafqat’s sister Anum Noor said, “The bell rang at our house in Mughalpura area of Lahore at 12:30pm today. My brother Imran Shafqat opened the door after which 10 people entered our house.”

Anum Noor said eight of the 10 people were without uniforms and two were wearing “white uniforms”.

“They said we came from the FIA. Didn’t say more than that. Neither did they show an arrest warrant,” added Noor.

“They dragged my brother out of the house,” said Noor Anum.

Journalist Shahid Aslam confirmed that both Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat are in the custody of FIA.

Journalists Amir Mir and Shafqat Imran are in FIA cyber crime wing custody, confirms top FIA officials@HamidMirPAK #JournalismIsNotACrime @cybercrimefia

— Shahid Aslam (@ShahidAslam87) August 7, 2021

Director FIA Cyber Crimes Wing Lahore, DIG Babar Bakht is supervising the investigation, as per Shahid Aslam.

Director FIA Cyber Crimes Wing Lahore DIG Babar Bakhat Qureshi is supervising the investigations whereas Waqas and Fakhar Abbas are the IOs of both the Journalists.

— Shahid Aslam (@ShahidAslam87) August 7, 2021

Reportedly Imran Shafqat is accused of doing a Vlog against the “First Lady” whereas the reasons to arrest Amir Mir are still unknown.

They do, Shafqat Imran is accused of a vlog against the first lady. Charges against Amir Mir are not known yet.

— Shahid Aslam (@ShahidAslam87) August 7, 2021

Some say Amir Mir has been arrested for a news story that ran on his YouTube channel, Googly News.

Here is FIA's official investigation approval against Aamir Mir. pic.twitter.com/vbn3Ao10TM

— MNA (@Engr_Naveed111) August 7, 2021

Twitter reacted to the alleged abduction of both Imran Shafqat and Amir Mir.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) tweeted, “We demand safe return and an immediate inquiry into the circumstances of his disappearance.”

HRCP strongly condemns the abduction of senior journalist and vlogger @simranshafqat. We demand his safe return and an immediate enquiry into the circumstances of his disappearance. pic.twitter.com/JpH5FC3fqA

— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) August 7, 2021

 Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto strongly condemned the arrest of journalists Amir Mir and Imran Shafqat and demanded their release.

Strongly condemn the arrest of journalists #AmirMir and #ImranShafqat . Imran Khan continues victimization of political opponents and media critics to hide his incompetence and failures. Demand release immediately.

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) August 7, 2021

Journalist Raza Rumi tweeted, “I have spent about 18 summers of my life in England. I have seen the British media, they are very open and free. But the Pakistan media, in my opinion, is freer than the British media: PM Imran Khan.”

"I have spent about 18 summers of my life in England. I have seen the British media, they are very open and free. But the Pakistan media, in my opinion, is freer than the British media," PM Imran Khan https://t.co/WbC6A2Y2hx

— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) August 7, 2021

Journalist Asma Shirazi questions, “When will the disappearance of journalists stop?”

صحافیوں کو لاپتہ کرنے کا سلسلہ کب رُکے گا؟#BringbackImranShafqat @simranshafqat https://t.co/Gr20ao9wgL

— Asma Shirazi (@asmashirazi) August 7, 2021

Journalist Zebunnia Burki tweeted, ” I’d say unbelievable, but it’s really not.”

I'd say unbelievable, but its really not. #BringbackImranShafqat #BringBackAmirMir #JournalismIsNotACrime https://t.co/dJODpAsecJ

— Zebunnisa Burki (@zburki) August 7, 2021