Journalists and Lawyers Warn of Protests as Police Raids, Cybercrime Notices Threaten Press Freedom

LAHORE (Staff Report) — Senior lawyers and bar leaders announced their support for journalists protesting against alleged harassment and ‘illegal notices’ issued by police and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
The protest was staged in the premises of the Lahore High Court where representatives of the legal fraternity joined journalists to denounce raids on reporters’ homes and notices issued by the cybercrime wing.
Those present included former Supreme Court Bar president and Pakistan Bar Council member Ahsan Bhoon, Punjab Bar Council Vice Chairman, Lahore High Court Bar President Asif Niswana, Lahore Bar Association President Mubashar Rehman Chaudhry, LHCBA Secretary Farukh Ilyas Cheema, and senior lawyers including Azhar Siddique, Mureed Bhutta and Ali Chengezi Sandhu. They announced “full support” for the journalist community and termed the actions of DIG Operations Lahore Faisal Kamran and NCCIA Director Hashmat Kamal as ‘unlawful and intimidating’.
Leaders of the journalist bodies — including Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari, Punjab Union of Journalists President Naeem Hanif, Courts Journalists Association President Muhammad Ashfaq, and Punjab Assembly Press Gallery President Khawaja Naseer — condemned the alleged harassment, saying that freedom of expression was being targeted.
Mr Ansari, while addressing the gathering, said: “Police raids on journalists’ homes and notices from the cybercrime agency are an attempt to silence independent voices. We are not afraid. Handcuffs are our jewellery and we will continue speaking the truth.”
He added that multiple journalists, including Crime Reporters Association office-bearers, had received notices from NCCIA — a move he called “an attack on press freedom”.
Lawyers also issued strong statements of solidarity. Mr Bhoon said: “We stand shoulder to shoulder with journalists. Police and NCCIA officials must learn to tolerate dissent. Any injustice against media workers will not be accepted.”
LHCBA President Niswana warned: “If any illegal action is taken, lawyers will join journalists on the streets.” Similarly, LBA President Chaudhry said: “Those trying to suppress journalists’ voices are mistaken. Lawyers across Pakistan stand with the press.”
The gathering unanimously passed a resolution condemning the alleged harassment, raids, and notices. Participants warned that if such actions continued, they would be compelled to launch a joint lawyers-journalists protest movement, including a possible “jail bharo” campaign.
Prominent journalists and press club representatives including Mujahid Sheikh, Shiraz Nisar, Ahmed Faraz, Yasser Shamoon, Waseem Sabir, and others were also present in large numbers.

Source: Staff Report