Lahore High Court Demands IG Punjab's Explanation on Journalist's Disappearance

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Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has summoned the Inspector General of Punjab Police on Friday at 3 PM regarding the recovery of journalist Shakir Mehmood Awan. The move comes amidst growing concerns over the safety of journalists in Pakistan, with parallels being drawn to the recent case of Islamabad-based journalist Matiullah Jan. Presiding over the petition filed by Awan's mother, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh questioned the apparent inaction by authorities. The government lawyer assured the court of ongoing efforts to locate Awan but requested additional time. However, SP Police present in court claimed, “The journalist is not in our custody, and we are ready to provide a written statement if necessary.”

Advocate Azhar Siddique presented video footage purportedly showing police involvement in Awan's detention, but the SP averted his gaze from the evidence, prompting sharp criticism from Justice Sheikh. “Why are you turning away? Watch the video,” the judge said.

Journalist Muhammad Ashfaq added weight to the allegations, stating, “Shakir Mehmood was assaulted during his detention. If the police insist on innocence, they could at least fabricate charges as they did in Matiullah Jan’s case.” The court emphasized the police's responsibility to ensure the journalist’s safe recovery and ordered IG Punjab to provide a comprehensive explanation. This case echoes the recent ordeal of Matiullah Jan, who was briefly detained under contentious circumstances. Both cases have raised alarms among local and international media advocacy groups regarding press freedoms and the safety of journalists in Pakistan. As these incidents unfold, calls are growing for stronger institutional measures to safeguard journalists and hold perpetrators accountable. The High Court’s decision on Friday will likely set a precedent for addressing such cases in the future.