Journalist Booked in Pakistan for Exposing LPG Smuggling; A Disturbing Incident for Press Freedom
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NCCIA has filed an FIR against Karachi journalist Nadir Khan just 30 minutes after he reported alleged LPG smuggling at Karachi Port. |
Karachi: Various organizations have strongly condemned the assault on a journalist who exposed alleged LPG smuggling at Pakistan's Karachi Port, as well as the subsequent filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against him by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
Barely half an hour after senior journalist Nadir Khan published a sensitive report regarding the alleged smuggling of LPG at Karachi Port, a case was registered against him. Prior to this, he was also physically assaulted on the street—incidents that have raised serious questions regarding the freedom of the press.
Pakistan's Human Rights Council (HRC) strongly condemned the actions taken against senior Pakistani journalist Nadir Khan. "It is highly surprising that such a sensitive and major news story was debunked within a short span of time—and without any substantive investigation—and that, instead, the journalist was targeted." The Council added that "the use of law enforcement agencies in this manner to shield the two prominent figures mentioned in the report constitutes a direct assault on press freedom and an attempt to intimidate journalists," said HRC.
The Karachi Press Club (KPC) termed this move against the investigative journalist a severe blow to the freedom of the press and freedom of expression. KPC President Fazil Jamili, Secretary Aslam Khan, and members of the governing body criticized the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for initiating legal action without issuing prior notice or conducting a formal inquiry.
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The club termed the move a violation of due legal procedures and alleged it was a deliberate attempt to silence independent journalism. The rights body demanded that "the unlawful case registered against journalist Nadir Khan be immediately dismissed, and that a transparent inquiry be conducted into the facts presented in the report."
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists-Dastoor (PFUJ-D) condemned the incident, characterizing it as a conspiracy to undermine freedom of expression. In a joint statement, PFUJ-D President Haji Muhammad Nawaz Raza, Secretary General A.H. Khanzada, and members of the Executive Council expressed deep concern over the procedural irregularities involved in the case. They asserted that registering a case without adhering to due process poses a major threat to journalistic freedom and is intended to intimidate journalists.
The Pakistani media outlet Geo News said, “This case has been registered at a time when the country is in need of unity due to current challenges. The case was filed without any notice or interrogation, completely disregarding legal procedures, and appears to be a premeditated and deliberate act. The objective of such measures is not only to stifle press freedom but also to harass journalists who bring the truth to light.”
On March 19, 2026, senior journalist Nadir Khan published a sensitive report regarding the alleged smuggling of LPG at Karachi Port. The report claimed that LPG was being smuggled aboard a cargo vessel, prompting the Anti-Corruption Circle of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to intercept the ship. Within just 30 minutes of the report's publication, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) registered an FIR against the journalist. Some reports allege that, either prior to the registration of the FIR or during the incident in question, Nadir Khan was chased down on the streets and beaten.
