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ISLAMABAD: A session court on Wednesday declared the arrest of senior journalist Mohsin Jamil Baig as illegal as police send him on a three-day physical remand.
A petition was filed against the “illegal detention” of the journalist. The petition, filed by Baig’s lawyer Raheel Niazi, was heard by additional sessions judge Justice Zafar Iqbal. The court then appointed a bailiff, ordering the authorities to produce Baig in court.
The lawyer informed the judge that men in plainclothes came to Baig’s house and took the journalist with them. The journalist and his family members sought arrest and search warrants which they refused. The lawyer further added that the officials in plainclothes smashed mobile phones before taking away Baig with them. The court declared the detention illegal and instructed to submit the order with Inspector General Punjab Islamabad.
Later in the day, FIA officials raided the Mohsin’s residence once again to arrest his son Hamza Baig for allegedly carrying out a gun attack and attacking the agency’s personnel. Hamza Baig had fled from the scene after the arrest of his father.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted three-day physical remand of Mohsin Jamil Baig, hours after he was arrested over resisting an FIA raid for allegedly making offsensive remarks against Prime Minister Imran Khan in a TV show.
READ MORE: FIA arrests senior journalist Mohsin Baig
The federal agency arrested Mohsin Baig on the complaint of the government against a discussion during a TV show. The FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing (CCW) raided the journalist’s house and took him into custody. As per a statement issued by the law enforcement agency, the officials raided Baig’s house in Islamabad’s Sector F8 on the complaint of federal minister Murad Saeed.
According to the FIR, Baig had used “immoral language” for Murad Saeed in a talk show. It said Baig had narrated a “baseless story with derogatory remarks” which was subsequently shared on social media and had “shattered” the federal minister’s image in public.
The FIA said the raid was conducted after obtaining a formal search and seizure warrant from the court It said Mohsin Baig and his son and servants directly fired at the FIA team and made two officials hostage, adding that Baig was arrested after he ran out of bullets and was taken to Margalla police station.
A policeman was also injured during the FIA raid to arrest Baig after the latter resisted the bid and hit one of the cops with his gun. The raid continued for over an hour due to stiff resistance and the accused could be seen carrying a weapon at the time of his arrest.
Police have registered an FIR against Mohsin Baig under terrorism, attempt to murder, and other serious offenses at Margalla police station. The police also provided the court bailiff regarding the details of cases against the suspect as the latter submitted the details before the court.
