Pak journalist held over Facebook posts criticising security forces

Zafarullah Achakzai, who works at Urdu daily Qudrat, was picked up from his house Sunday by the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC), the security force deployed in restive Balochistan province.

Islamabad, June 30: Pakistani reporter has been detained and charged under cybercrime laws for criticising security forces on social media, officials said on Friday, the latest sign of a state crackdown on free speech.

Zafarullah Achakzai, who works for the Qudrat newspaper was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on June 25 in Quetta, capital of Balochistan province, police said. Niamatullah Achakzai, the detained reporter's father and the editor-in-chief of the daily Qudrat, also confirmed that he was taken into custody under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016.

Police said that a local magistrate has remanded the reporter to police for further investigation. Last month, interior minister Nisar Ali Khan took notice of alleged anti-army campaign in the social media and announced that those responsible for it will not be spared.

PTI