Hyderabad Journalist Arrested Over ‘Attempted Rape’ Case
Police in Hyderabad arrested journalist Abdul Ghafoor Sarohi in the early hours of Friday over an alleged attempted rape, then released him the same night after the case against him was reduced to C-class. His family, lawyers and civil society activists have alleged the case was fabricated, pointing to his reporting against alleged police failures in tackling drug trafficking.
The pre-dawn raid drew a protest outside the SSP office and a demand for an independent Federal Investigation Agency inquiry.
The midnight raid
Around 20 policemen broke into Sarohi’s Qasimabad apartment at about 3am, damaging the gate, according to his family and neighbours. The family said they were kept in the dark about the reason for the arrest. His younger brother, Qayum Sarohi, told the media that the family and neighbours repeatedly asked the police why he was being taken away, and were only told the order had come from the SSP.
Market police produced Sarohi before a court on Friday morning and obtained two days of physical remand. He was kept at the CIA centre, where he complained of torture in custody, and the court ordered his physical checkup.
The complaint behind the FIR
The journalist was booked in an FIR at Market police station on October 8, on the complaint of Sanam, wife of Rahib Mallah, who lives in a rented house in the Silawat Para locality.
The FIR states that Sarohi and an unidentified man attempted to rape the complainant at her house at around 1am on October 5. She claimed Sarohi dragged her into the street, tore her clothes, and fled with the other man on a motorbike when she screamed. It also alleges he had been giving her life threats while repeatedly asking her to meet him.
All of these remain allegations recorded in the FIR; no court has adjudicated the matter.
Family and lawyers allege a fake case
Sarohi’s family and friends, along with media workers, lawyers and civil society activists, held a protest outside the SSP office and alleged that the FIR was fake. They point to Sarohi’s history of criticising Hyderabad police for their alleged lax action against drug trafficking, suggesting the case was registered to silence him.
Senior lawyer Sajjad Ahmed Chandio told The Express Tribune that “mere registration of an FIR or allegation [thereof] isn’t the only ground to arrest anyone”.
Advocate Aslam Laghari, who accompanied Sarohi to court, called for a transparent inquiry conducted by the Federal Investigation Agency. He described the Hyderabad police as partisan for allegedly managing a fake FIR, and deplored that Sarohi was brought to court in handcuffs. The FIA has previously taken police officers into custody on remand in controversial cases, including five policemen in the Kasur encounter case.
Courts have taken a strict view of tainted police investigations. The Peshawar High Court recently set aside a 10-year sentence of a police inspector in a fabricated-evidence case, and the Lahore High Court has been seeking reports on the implementation of detention safeguards. Sindh itself has seen high-profile journalist cases before; a judicial commission recently wrapped up its proceedings.
Released as FIR is reduced to C-class
The custody proved short-lived. Sarohi was released before midnight on Friday, and the FIR against him was reduced to C-class, a classification that records an admission of mistake in the initial police investigation.
A C-class summary ends the immediate proceedings against the accused unless fresh evidence emerges.
Sarohi’s supporters continue to demand an inquiry into how the case was registered and how the arrest was carried out, including the alleged torture complaint.
Frequently asked questions
What does a C-class FIR mean?
A C-class summary is filed when the police conclude that the case registered in the FIR was based on a mistake or that the allegation could not be substantiated. It effectively closes the investigation in the accused’s favour.
What is physical remand?
Physical remand is court-ordered police custody for a limited number of days so investigators can complete their inquiries. In this case, the court granted two days of physical remand, though Sarohi was released before the period ended.
Why did the journalist’s family protest?
The family, joined by media workers, lawyers and civil society activists, protested outside the SSP office, alleging the FIR was fake. They say Sarohi was targeted because he had criticised Hyderabad police for alleged inaction against drug trafficking.
What did the court order after the torture complaint?
After Sarohi complained of being tortured in custody, the judge ordered his physical checkup. His lawyer later demanded a transparent inquiry by the Federal Investigation Agency into the entire episode.
