Journalists reporting May 9 riots face raids

Technology used to track cellphones operating from spot

LAHORE:

Journalists performing their duties outside the Jinnah House in Lahore on May 9 are also facing the brunt of a crackdown as raids are being conducted to arrest them after their names came into the lists prepared through geo-fencing.

Geo-fencing is a technique in which all the mobile phone numbers active in a certain location are marked.

A large number of journalists were present for the coverage, using their mobile phones to communicate with their offices as well as sources of information.

Shahid Aslam, who is facing a case for his alleged role in a data leak case, is one such case.

He said many journalists from Lahore who had been present at the location for coverage had been arrested.

A social media user Atif Malik said a TV reporter, Ali Tariq, had been arrested after he went for reporting at the Jinnah House.

Sarfaraz Ahmad Khan, who worked as a deputy bureau chief at a news channel and has been reporting for over one and a half decades in the city, has also faced raids at his home.

The Lahore Press Club (LPC) has sought the details of the journalists, drivers and other staff members who had been deputed for coverage of the protests on May 9. The list will be shared with the government.

LPC President Azam Chaudhry has also reportedly decided to file a petition before the Lahore High Court against the arrest of journalists.

According to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Anwar, he had issued directions to all the formations to remove the name of the journalists present for coverage from the lists of suspects.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2023.