Senior journalist Aslam Shah to appear before court amid nationwide protests over PECA case

KARACHI: Senior journalist Aslam Shah is scheduled to appear on Monday (today) before the court of the Judicial Magistrate-I, South District, at the City Courts Karachi. Journalists’ bodies, lawyers and representatives of civil society organisations have also announced that they will attend the proceedings to express solidarity.
Following his arrest under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and subsequent release on bail, Mr Shah will present himself before the civil and judicial magistrate on January 19, 2026. The case against him was registered under Sections 20 and 24 of PECA on the complaint of an officer of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation. After his arrest, the journalist was remanded to Malir Jail on judicial custody.
On January 14, the court, after hearing arguments from the defence lawyers and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), ordered his immediate release on bail. A large number of journalists and lawyers were present in court at the time.
Mr Shah’s arrest has triggered strong protests across the country. Journalists’ organisations, along with human rights and social groups, have condemned the use of PECA against a senior journalist. The Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), the Karachi Press Club and other media bodies have strongly criticised the registration of what they termed a “false and baseless” case, demanding its immediate withdrawal.
The KUJ’s executive committee has described PECA as a “black law” that is being misused against working journalists. It has reiterated its demand that the case against Mr Shah be withdrawn without delay.
The Karachi Union of Journalists has expressed gratitude to the President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Afzal Butt, Secretary Arshad Ansari, senior journalists Mazhar Abbas, Khurshid Abbasi, Karachi Press Club President Fazil Jamili, Secretary Aslam Khan, and a large number of journalists, lawyers, labour leaders and human rights activists for standing by Aslam Shah in what it described as a difficult time.
Speaking to colleagues and supporters, Mr Shah thanked journalists, lawyers and human rights activists for their solidarity. Participants stressed that their struggle was not limited to Mr Shah’s arrest and bail, but was part of a broader campaign against the PECA law itself and its alleged misuse to file cases against journalists.
They emphasised the need to strengthen unity among journalists and allied groups, warning that if the journalistic community remained united, no one would dare to register cases against reporters for performing their professional duties. Journalists’ organisations, lawyers, human rights defenders, social activists and labour representatives have announced that they will gather at the City Courts to show solidarity, calling the unity displayed by the journalistic community commendable and essential for safeguarding press freedom in the future.