ARY News anchor Arshad Sharif 'threatened' by senior IB officer during PEMRA hearing

RAWALPINDI: A senior officer of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has threatened ARY News anchor Arshad Sharif in presence of the Council of Complaints (CoC) of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and lawyers, ARY News reported on Thursday.

“The IB officer, in presence of the CoC members, lawyers and three other senior IB officers, said he would drag me,” senior anchor Arshad Sharif told ARY News.

The ARY News anchor was summoned by the PEMRA over the letter he showed in his program on September 25 and September 27. 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

“The officer even tried to pressurize the CoC members, which he pointed out to PEMRA,” Arshad Sharif said.

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

Threat recorded by PEMRA in its cameras. Would be uploading the brief written response given to PEMRA as arguments of my lawyer continue

— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) October 5, 2017

Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, party leader Asad Umar condemned the IB officer’s act in tweets. PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan and PAT chief Tahir-ul-Qadri too condemned the act.

“I strongly condemn threats issued by DG internal IB to Arshad Sharif at Pemra hearing. Scratch the surface and PML-N’s fascist creed shows up,” he tweeted after hearing the news on ARY News.

Strongly condemn threats issued by DG internal IB to Arshad Sharif at PEMRA hearing. Scratch the surface & PMLN’s fascist creed shows up

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 5, 2017

A brave journalist like you cannot be threatened into silence. All those who believe in a free media need to speak up against these threats https://t.co/bOpdX7a4Hx

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) October 5, 2017

Shame.. Is this Banana republic? https://t.co/nW989m1BaN

— Nadeem Afzal Chan (@NadeemAfzalChan) October 5, 2017