Pakistan: CFWIJ Condemns FIA’s Failure To Act In Gharidah Farooqi Case
Location: Pakistan, Islamabad
Date: February 17, 2022
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has failed to act with regard to the complaints filed by Gharidah Farooqi about the persistent online harassment she faces. Massive troll campaigns have been launched against Gharidah in the recent past. Her work and principled stance on matters of policy and public interest have been met with vitriol and malicious hate campaigns, with support from sitting ministers. The failure of the state office to act has raised eyebrows with many commenting that federal agencies have become tools of the state often weaponized against its critics.
In a recent live show, popular journalist Shahzeb Khanzada highlighted the double standards in the way the (FIA) acts when it comes to protecting journalists, specially women journalists, who face vile, gendered attacks for criticizing state policy. Gharidah shared Khanzada’s analysis on her Twitter account. Gharidah has filed at least six complaints with the FIA, including one against a state minister, but has received no response.
Thank you @shazbkhanzdaGEO for raising your voice.
— Gharidah Farooqi (@GFarooqi) February 16, 2022
Yes my several complaints pending in FIA including one against a hi-profile State Minister for defamation, harassment & many other charges;since last many years. Why no action? #JournalismIsNotACrime
pic.twitter.com/Kkmog4j6g2
#PMLN VP @MaryamNSharif asks PM @ImranKhanPTI should set the same standards for @asmashirazi, @sanabucha and @GFarooqi, what he is demanding for his family. pic.twitter.com/ygFfdlA8mo
— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) February 17, 2022
Gharidah has also received support from Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a popular leader of the oppositional party Pakistan Muslim League - N. The politician called out the gendered insults women journalists face in the country, demanding the Prime Minister take notice of the way his political party weaponizes social media against them.
Gharidah has spoken to CFWIJ in the past about the violence she encounters on digital spaces, "Such attacks were known to me as I’ve been a constant target of PTI officials, media cell and paid trolls since 2014, but the intensity has magnified not just for me but for women journalists as a whole in Pakistan since 2018. Dissenting and critical voices are forcefully and tactfully tried to shut down employing the latest techniques of cyber warfare,” she said. “Since 2014, I’ve approached all relevant forums to launch complaints against online attacks on me, but even after seven years, my complaints still lie in the cold corners of these forums. The involvement of government officials in attacks against women journalists is a highly alarming and dangerous situation leaving female journalists vulnerable and helpless to find help for their safety and security,” Garidah revealed.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the FIA’s complacency in this matter. It has become increasingly obvious that state offices have resorted to protecting the government in power instead of serving citizens, making it extremely difficult for dissident voices in the country to seek justice. This is an extremely worrying trend for the future of democratic values in the country and must be immediately corrected.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.