ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to complete its inquiry into the complaint filed by private TV morning show host Shiffa Yousafzai against journalist Asad Ali Toor for criticizing state institutions.
During the hearing, the Islamabad High Court suspended the FIA notice issued to journalist Asad Toor for allegedly defaming the security departments. However, Chief Justice Athar Minallah directed the FIA to complete its inquiry into the complaint filed by private TV morning show host Shiaffa Yousafzai.
Justice Athar Minallah said that the court had directed the FIA to summon the petitioner. Notice was suspended and inquiry was not prohibited, he added.
The judge said that after receiving the complaint, the FIA should first satisfy itself after the initial inquiry whether the case has been made or not. The Chief Justice told the investigating officer that he has a power that must use in accordance with the law.
The Court directed the FIA investigating officer to conduct the investigation in a transparent manner. The court has adjourned the hearing of the case till June 20 and sought a detailed reply from the FIA.
It should be noted that Asad Ali Toor had alleged that he had been tortured by the officials of the intelligence agencies while the arrested persons were civilians who had no connection with any intelligence agency.
The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in a high-level contact with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has completely disassociated itself from the recent incident.
According to a press release by the Ministry of Information, the allegations against the ISI were part of the Fifth Generation Warfare under a well-thought-out conspiracy.
The ISI believed that the investigations should go ahead as the faces of the accused can be seen clearly on CCTV and stern action should be taken against the culprits involved in the incident.
The ISI assured full cooperation with the investigating agencies in this regard. The Ministry of Information was in close touch with the Islamabad Police and hoped that the accused would be apprehended soon.
The practice of leveling accusations against the institutions sans any supporting evidence should end now as such negative tendencies were part of a conspiracy against the country’s institutions. They expressed firm belief that the real culprits would be exposed soon.
Earlier, Asad Ali Toor was severely beaten up by unidentified assailants outside his residence in Sector F-10 late on Tuesday night. According to police, some people came outside Toor’s residence located in an apartment building. A scuffle took place between him and these people who fled from the scene after thrashing him.
The injured journalist was moved to a private hospital, where his condition was stated to be stable. Narrating some of the details of the incident, Toor said through a video that the attackers had asked him about the source of his funds. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry took notice of the incident and ordered the Islamabad police chief to probe the matter.
