WEBDESK - NAYADAUR - Imran Malik
The disappearance of senior Pakistani journalist and TV Today anchor Bilal Ghouri took a dramatic turn after authorities confirmed that he had been arrested by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) over social media content concerning the appointment of a NACTA coordinator.
Ghouri’s family reported him missing after he disappeared from his home office at around 2 a.m. His purse and glasses were reportedly left behind, while his mobile phone was switched off.
His family subsequently approached Shalimar Police Station and submitted an application concerning his disappearance. According to the information provided, the application was received, but an FIR was not registered at that time.
The mystery was later resolved when the NCCIA confirmed that Ghouri had been taken into custody.
What The FIR Says
According to the FIR cited in the report, authorities registered the case at 12:10 a.m. after Ghouri allegedly published an X post and a 16-minute YouTube video on Sept. 5 discussing the appointment of the NACTA coordinator.
The FIR alleges that the journalist’s content was “fabricated and allegation-based” and that he deliberately created and publicized material that authorities described as false, misleading, and lacking solid evidence.
The allegations have not been independently adjudicated, and Ghouri’s side of the case was not included in the material provided.
The circumstances surrounding the arrest have nevertheless raised concerns among journalists and press-freedom advocates, particularly because Ghouri’s family was reportedly unaware of his whereabouts while believing he was missing.
The Islamabad Press Club had already sought answers following reports of his disappearance. Following confirmation of the arrest, attention has shifted toward the legal basis of the case, the allegations in the FIR and the conditions of Ghouri’s detention.
Press Freedom Concerns
The case has also sparked debate over the boundaries between Pakistan’s cybercrime laws and journalistic scrutiny of government decisions.
At the center of the case is Ghouri’s coverage of the appointment of a NACTA coordinator, a senior position within Pakistan’s national counterterrorism framework.
Supporters of the journalist argue that discussing government appointments and scrutinizing decisions involving public institutions are legitimate journalistic activities. Authorities, however, allege that the material published by Ghouri crossed legal boundaries by containing fabricated and misleading claims.
The competing positions are now expected to be tested through the legal process.
For Ghouri’s family, the immediate uncertainty surrounding his disappearance has ended, but a new set of questions has emerged over his arrest and the case against him.
He was reported missing. He was later confirmed to be in custody. Now the focus is on why he was arrested, what evidence supports the allegations, and whether due process has been followed.