Journalists Granted Pre-Arrest Bail in Lahore in Case pertaining to “False Rape Incident”
On October 24, a district court in Lahore granted pre-arrest bail to journalists Shakir Mehmood Awan and Syed Zeeshan Aziz in cases registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Defence-A police for spreading an “alleged rape story” at a private college in Lahore.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Suleman Ghuman granted the bail after the two journalists appeared in court accompanied by their legal counsel, Advocate Azhar Siddique, and several fellow journalists. The court issued notices to the relevant authorities and sought their replies by November 4.
Advocate Siddique, representing the journalists, questioned the legality of the FIA and police actions, particularly the registration of two First Information Reports (FIRs) for the same incident. He contended that implicating journalists in such cases was unjust, especially when they were performing their professional duties.
The counsel also argued that the charges appeared politically motivated, citing the government’s increasing instability. He urged the court to recognize that the journalists were merely reporting on a developing situation, not inciting violence or unrest.
The First Information Report (FIR) was registered on the complaint by Sadia Yousuf, the principal of Punjab College for Women, who raised concerns over the “dirty social media campaigns” that had aggravated protests. A separate FIR filed by police officer Muhammad Sajjad stated that the alleged victim’s parents denied the rape incident, claiming it was a conspiracy to humiliate them and incite students against the state. The ensuing protests led to property damage, prompting calls for a thorough investigation and action against those responsible.