Qayoom Sarohi
HYDERABAD: Senior journalist Abdul Ghafoor Sarohi was released late at night after his arrest by Hyderabad police, drawing strong reactions from journalist organisations, lawyers, and political and social circles. Media bodies have called for a transparent investigation and effective measures to protect journalists and freedom of expression.
According to sources, police personnel allegedly broke down the main door of Sarohi’s home in the Qasimabad area of Hyderabad late on Friday night and took him away. Members of the journalistic community widely condemned the alleged incident as a violation of the sanctity and privacy of the home.
In protest, journalists, lawyers, and political and social representatives staged a sit-in outside the SSP Office in Hyderabad for about two and a half hours, chanting slogans against the police action and demanding accountability.
After the protest, and following strong reactions reportedly received from different parts of the country, police are said to have formally shown Sarohi’s arrest some 15 to 16 hours after the incident. His arrest was reportedly shown in connection with a case registered at Market Police Station on the complaint of a woman named Sanam Mallah. Sarohi was released later that night.
Some circles have suggested that questions surrounding the case may have contributed to his release. However, the official reasons for his release, the current legal status of the case, and the allegations recorded in the complaint have not been independently verified for this report.
Journalists also expressed concern over reports that Sarohi was taken to the CIA Centre rather than kept at Market Police Station, where the case was registered. They called for an impartial examination of the circumstances surrounding his arrest, the alleged raid on his home, his transfer, and his release.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Islamabad Union of Journalists, Sindh Sahafi Ittehad, and other journalist organisations also condemned the incident. They voiced concern over what they described as a troubling pattern of arrests and the alleged use of criminal cases to pressure journalists.
The organisations urged the federal and Sindh governments, the Sindh High Court, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and human rights bodies to ensure a transparent and impartial investigation. They also called for effective measures to prevent similar incidents and to safeguard press freedom, freedom of expression, and democratic rights.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Front Movement Chairman Lal Dino Mari, together with the movement’s representatives in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, condemned Sarohi’s arrest. He said restrictions on freedom of expression could have serious consequences and described Sarohi as a fearless journalist. The movement’s leadership criticised the alleged conduct of the police and called for a transparent investigation.
Editorial Note: Details of the alleged raid, arrest, and case are based on information from the sources cited in this report. The police’s official version, the relevant case documents, and the formal reasons for Sarohi’s release have not been independently verified. The police response and the current legal status of the case should be obtained before publication to ensure a balanced account.
