ARY News reported that police registered an FIR against its anchorperson Arshad Sharif on Saturday, blaming him for speaking against state institutions.
Police registered the case at a B-section police station in Hyderabad.
They said the case had been registered at the complaint of a man named Tayyab Hussain for “His remarks during Matiullah Jan’s show” under sections 505, 153, and 131 of the penal laws.
This is not the first time that Arshad Sharif has been targeted. Earlier in 2017, a senior officer of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) threatened Sharif in the presence of the Council of Complaints (CoC) of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and lawyers, as ARY reported.
Just returned from CoC Pemra. Have submitted reply.
A senior IB official threatened me in the presence of CoC members & lawyers.— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) October 5, 2017
The PEMRA summoned the ARY News anchor over the letter he showed during his programs in September.
Read more: Senior anchor Arshad Sharif illegally detained by FIA
According to ARY News, “The anchor alleged that former PM Nawaz Sharif had directed the IB on July 10 to keep watch on the listed legislators, mostly belonging to the PML-N.The list is said to contain the names of over 37 lawmakers suspected of having links with banned terrorist and sectarian outfits.”
Arshad Sharif said, “The officer even tried to pressurize the CoC members, which he pointed out to PEMRA.”
In response, PTI leader and former Minister of Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan Fawad Chaudhry said, “Sindh under PPP have become a new epic centre of Thana Culture, political opponents are harassed and tortured latest in the series is Alamgir Khan [PTI MNA from Karachi] and now reportedly an FIR against top anchor Arshad chaudhry all in very bad taste.”
Sindh under PPP have become a new epic centre of Thana Culture, political opponents are harassed and tortured latest in the series is @AKFixit and now reportedly an FIR against top anchor @arsched all in very bad taste
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 21, 2022