Pak Freezes Parrot Sellers’ Bank Accounts Over Sale to Critic Journalist
In a shocking turn of events, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has frozen the bank accounts of several bird sellers who sold parrots to independent journalist Asad Ali Toor, who is a vocal critic of the government. The authorities have also blocked the accounts of Toor himself. This move has raised concerns about the government’s increasing intolerance towards dissenting voices in the country.
According to the reports, the FIA took this action under the Anti-Terrorism Act, citing that the transactions were suspicious and needed to be investigated. The exact nature of the transactions or the reason behind the FIA’s decision remains unclear. However, it is widely believed that the government is targeting Toor, a well-known journalist, as part of its efforts to silence opposition voices.
Toor, who has been vocal about his criticism of the government’s policies, took to social media to express his shock and disappointment at the sudden move. He claimed that he had bought the parrots from a local market and had no idea that selling them to a journalist could lead to such severe consequences.
The bird sellers, who were interviewed by the media, also expressed their surprise and frustration at the situation. One of them said, “I sell birds to all sorts of people…I’d no idea that selling parrots to a journalist could lead to this.” Another seller added, “We are just ordinary people who make a living by selling birds. We have no connection with politics or journalism.”
The move by the FIA has sparked widespread outrage and concern among journalists and civil society groups in Pakistan. Many have expressed their solidarity with Toor and condemned the government’s attempts to silence opposition voices. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has also issued a statement condemning the move and demanding that the authorities restore Toor’s accounts and lift the restrictions on his activities.
The PFUJ chairman, Shahzada Zulfiqar, said, “This is a clear case of harassment and intimidation of a journalist who is doing his job honestly. We demand that the government restore Asad’s accounts and allow him to continue his work without any interference.”
The freezing of Toor’s and the bird sellers’ accounts is just the latest in a series of moves by the government to silence opposition voices in Pakistan. In recent months, there have been reports of journalists and activists being harassed, detained, and even arrested for speaking out against the government.
The situation has raised serious concerns about the state of press freedom in Pakistan and the government’s commitment to upholding the fundamental rights of its citizens. The move has also sparked fears that the government is using its powers to target individuals and groups who dare to challenge its authority.
The international community has also expressed its concern over the situation. The United Nations has called on the government to respect the rights of journalists and ensure that they are able to carry out their work without fear of intimidation or retaliation.
The freezing of the accounts of Toor and the bird sellers is a clear example of how the government is using its powers to silence opposition voices in Pakistan. It is a move that has serious implications for the country’s press freedom and the fundamental rights of its citizens.
As the situation continues to unfold, it is essential that the international community continues to monitor the situation and hold the government accountable for its actions. The government must be pressured to respect the rights of journalists and ensure that they are able to carry out their work without fear of intimidation or retaliation.
