LAHORE: Several politicians and journalists have condemned the summons notice issued to anchorperson Nadeem Malik by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the case regarding the video scandal of former accountability court judge Arshad Malik.
The FIA’s Counter-Terrorism Wing has summoned Nadeem Malik under Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Malik was requested to appear at the FIA’s headquarters on July 6 with “all relevant information, documents and evidence.”
According to the notice, the FIA said, “Please refer to your ‘Nadeem Malik Live Programme’ dated April 28, 2021, that revealed that you have important information which can be relevant for the agency to further investigate the above-mentioned case.”
In the programme, the anchorperson claimed he was informed by two individuals, part of the FIA team investigating Judge Malik, that ‘the other party’ had found an old objectionable video of the judge.
“The unidentified persons summoned the judge and told him that the video would come out in public view if he didn’t give a favourable decision in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference,” he said.
Nadeem Malik further said, “Judge Arshad Malik then announced the decision and Nawaz Sharif was disqualified,” adding that he was quoting verbatim what he had been told by the sources.
Reacting to news of the notice, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal “strongly” condemned it and hailed Malik as “one of the most professional journalists of Pakistan.”
I Strongly condemn notice by FIA cybercrime to Mr Nadeem Malik who is one of the most professional journalists of Pakistan.
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) July 4, 2021
PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said the notice was “highly condemnable and is yet more proof that this fascist regime won’t rest till the little remaining space for freedom of speech is eliminated”.
The notice served to @nadeemmalik, a credible and highly respected journalist, by FIA is highly condemnable and is yet more proof that this fascist regime won’t rest till the little remaining space for freedom of speech is eliminated. FIA must immediately withdraw this notice. pic.twitter.com/anzaY6t3NQ
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) July 4, 2021
Meanwhile, journalist Syed Talat Hussain said, “FIA’s notice to Nadeem Malik, a reputable journalist, for personal appearance before the agency over his remarks on the notorious Arshad Malik case, is the latest example of unfolding fascism.” He claimed that the media was facing a “total assault”.
FIA’s notice to Nadeem Malik, a reputable journalist, for personal appearance before the agency over his remarks on the notorious Arshad Malik case, is the latest example of unfolding fascism. Media is facing a total assault, whose origins I have consistently documented. pic.twitter.com/gIXWvsweFB
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) July 3, 2021
Columnist and journalist Ansar Abbasi also praised Malik as an “honourable journalist” and said he became the “latest victim of the FIA’s misadventures against the media.”
Senior anchor @nadeemmalik is an honourable journalist and the latest victim of FIA’s misadventures against media. #Condemnable
— Ansar Abbasi (@AnsarAAbbasi) July 4, 2021
