Islamabad (Digital Post) CCD Multan Arrests Journalist Shoaib Iftikhar on Extortion Charges, Sparks Outcry

Islamabad (Digital Post)– :CCD Multan Arrests Journalist Shoaib Iftikhar on Extortion Charges, Sparks Outcry Crime Reporters Association chief accused of blackmail, misuse of police links FIR registered on complaint of alleged police tout with history of multiple cases Journalist humiliated as CCD shaves head, moustache and eyebrows after arrest Media bodies term detention illegal, demand immediate release and withdrawal of case Action seen as retaliation after critical “crime diary” published against CCD

The Crime Control Department (CCD) Multan has arrested journalist Shoaib Iftikhar, president of the Crime Reporters Association, on charges of blackmail and extortion, triggering a wave of condemnation from the journalist community.

According to police records, the FIR was registered on the complaint of Ashiq Hussain, son of Muhammad Siddique, an Arain by caste and resident of Chak No. 9/V, Khanewal. Records show Hussain himself has been listed as an accused in 16 cases, a facilitator in 11, and a complainant in nine others, raising serious questions about the credibility of the complaint.

CCD alleges that Iftikhar extorted money from citizens by misusing police influence. The incident cited is reportedly more than two months old, yet action was initiated only after Iftikhar published a “crime diary” critical of CCD practices two days earlier.

Following his arrest, CCD released a photograph of Iftikhar with his head, moustache and eyebrows shaved. Journalists condemned the move as a humiliating act reminiscent of colonial-era punishments. Legal experts noted that such treatment has no basis in law, undermining the impartiality of the investigation and strengthening perceptions of police abuse of power.

Sources in Khanewal described complainant Ashiq Hussain as a “longtime police tout,” often made complainant in FIRs by default. “Whenever police register certain cases, they simply call Ashiq Hussain and tell him he has been made complainant,” one source alleged.

During interrogation, CCD claimed Iftikhar admitted to past incidents, including a 2020 case in Multan where he allegedly drugged a man in his office, filmed him in compromising circumstances, and extorted valuables and cash under threat of releasing the video. Investigators further accused him of exploiting his status as a journalist to blackmail public officials and private citizens alike.

The Multan Union of Journalists (MUJ) strongly condemned what it called an “illegal arrest, custodial torture and a fabricated case.” MUJ President Malik Shahadat Hussain and General Secretary Mazhar Khan warned that unless Iftikhar is released and action taken against CCD officials responsible, journalists would be compelled to protest across the province.

Press leaders cautioned that the case not only undermines public trust in law enforcement but also damages the credibility of journalism itself, with CCD’s actions reinforcing perceptions of Punjab as a “police state.”