Govt launches crackdown, arrests ARY News Head of News Ammad Yousaf
The ARY News Head of News Ammad Yousaf was recently arrested in an early morning raid in Karachi in the recently launched crackdowns by the coalition government.
After Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah’s press conference yesterday and the arrest of Dr Shahbaz Gill, the coalition government led by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) launched crackdowns and the ARY News Head of News Ammad Yousaf was recently arrested in an early morning raid in Karachi.
Yesterday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah defended the coalition government’s move by arresting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shahbaz Gill near Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence and hinted at more arrests in the coming days for an alleged attempt of sedition.
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He had also alleged that ARY News management also backed Imran Khan’s narrative and threatened the private news channel will also face the consequences in the shape of a high-level inquiry.
In an early morning raid, ARY News Head of News and Senior Executive Vice President Ammad Yousaf was arrested from his residence in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA).
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According to ARY News, a raiding team of police department along with plain-clothed men jumped into Yousaf’s house and took him away to an undisclosed location.
Some other reports suggested that Ammad Yousaf was not the single person from ARY News whose whereabouts are not yet known but senior anchorpersons including Arshad Sharif, Kashif Abbasi and Khawar Ghumman have also went missing.
The raid at Yousaf’s residence was conducted after the lodging of a case against him, ARY Network CEO Salman Iqbal, anchorperson Arshad Sharif, Islamabad Bureau Chief Khawar Ghumman and producer Adeel Raja. The said persons were named in the First Information Report (FIR) lodged at a police station in Karachi’s Malir district.
ARY News CEO Salman Iqbal, anchorperson Arshad Sharif, Islamabad bureau chief Khawar Ghumman, head of news operations Ammad Yousuf and producer Adeel Raja were also named in an FIR lodged at a police station in Karachi’s Malir district. pic.twitter.com/hQQ3rTFGHg
— Roohan Ahmed (@Roohan_Ahmed) August 10, 2022
Arshad Sharif wrote on Twitter, “The midnight raid to arrest @AmmadYousaf, head of news of
@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL is worst form of state fascism, violation of fundamental human rights & trampling press freedoms under #PMLN #PPP regime. @amnestysasia @CPJAsia @UNHumanRights must take notice, #ReleaseAmmadYousaf.”
The midnight raid to arrest @AmmadYousaf , head of news of @ARYNEWSOFFICIAL is worst form of state fascism, violation of fundamental human rights & trampling press freedoms under #PMLN #PPP regime. @amnestysasia @CPJAsia @UNHumanRights must take notice, #ReleaseAmmadYousaf pic.twitter.com/jtMS8VvJD2
— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) August 10, 2022
Mubashir Zaidi said, “Extremely concerning….Early morning raids to pick up management and journalists of @ARYNEWSOFFICIAL CEO picked up, anchors @arsched @Ghummans @Kashifabbasiary missing.”
Extremely concerning….Early morning raids to pick up management and journalists of @ARYNEWSOFFICIAL CEO picked up, anchors @arsched @Ghummans @Kashifabbasiary missing
— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) August 10, 2022
“Arynews senior Vice President ammad yusuf picked up from his residence in karachi،،ridiculous to pick up people from their houses in the middle of the night.. his name other ary names were floated in the afternoon.this is pure harassment.this is just ugly,” said Kashif Abbasi.
Arynews senior Vice President ammad yusuf picked up from his residence in karachi،،ridiculous to pick up people from their houses in the middle of the night.. his name other ary names were floated in the afternoon.this is pure harassment.this is just ugly
— Kashif Abbasi (@Kashifabbasiary) August 9, 2022
“Media of Pakistan is facing worst conditions in country. ARY a popular channel is banned and journalists are continuously facing harassment and arrests. A senior journalist Ammad Yousaf is just arrested at midnight from his home in Karachi,” anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan tweeted.
Media of Pakistan is facing worst conditions in country. ARY a popular channel is banned and journalists are continuously facing harassment and arrests. A senior journalist Ammad Yousaf is just arrested at midnight from his home in Karachi. @hrw @UN
— Imran Khan (@ImranRiazKhan) August 9, 2022
It is pertinent to mention here that Imran Khan’s Chief of Staff Dr Shahbaz Gill had been arrested by police from Islamabad’s Imran Khan Chowk and today, he was produced before the judicial magistrate in a sedition case.