April 11, 2025
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
FIA’s latest action against political leader and human rights activist, Farhatullah Babar has been met with widespread condemnation from civil society. A letter dated April 10 has collected signatures from over 250 people who have demanded that the government withdraw the case, and end the ‘investigation’.
On Friday, a letter by civil society was released, having been signed by journalists, political representatives, lawyers, human rights defenders, and others, condemning the case.
Some of those who have signed the letter include Hina Jilani, Afrasiab Khattak, Bushra Gohar, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhari, Hamid Mir, Munizae Jahangir, Kashif Abbasi, Nasim Zehra, Nasreen Azhar, Raja Ashraf, Haris Khalique, Salima Hashmi, Nasir Zaidi, Nasir Malick, Sohail Sangi, Tauseef Ahmed Khan, Dr Nadir Mehmood, Dr A.H Nayyar, Amir Waseem, Usama Khilji, Xari Jalil, Ayub Malik, Anwar Iqbal, Akram Qaimkhani, Zohra Yusuf, Habib Tahir, Akbar Khan, Sheema Kirmani, Ghazi Salahuddin and others. They have strongly condemned the investigation initiated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against former senator, human rights defender and senior political leader Farhatullah Babar.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has been particularly vocal in its criticism. In a statement, the HRCP expressed “serious doubts” about the legitimacy of the inquiry, given Babar’s long history of advocating for human rights and democratic reforms, even on difficult issues.
“Based on a private citizen’s complaint, the timing of this probe raises serious doubts as to its legitimacy, given that Mr Babar — who has been the driving force behind some of Pakistan’s most progressive legislation and also serves on HRCP’s governing council — has long been a vocal critic of state policies,” the HRCP stated. The organization called the inquiry “an example of the state weaponizing legal machinery to silence dissent and harass those who speak up.” The HRCP further warned that the inquiry sets “a dangerous precedent, especially when the individual in question has contributed significantly to Pakistan’s democratic and human rights causes.” The commission demanded that the inquiry be withdrawn and that the state issue a public apology to Farhatullah Babar.
HRCP strongly condemns the inquiry launched by the FIA against well-respected human rights defender and former senator, @FarhatullahB, following allegations of financial corruption. Based on a private citizen’s complaint, the timing of this probe raises serious doubts as to its…
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) April 9, 2025
FIA initiates case
The letter states that the FIA launched an investigation after receiving a frivolous complaint from a ‘private citizen’ against Farhatullah Babar. The baseless nature of the complaint makes it very evident that it was filed as an attempt to harass and intimidate Babar.
The fact that FIA would take up such a complaint against someone like Mr. Babar, who has an impeccable public record as a human rights defender and former Parliamentarian, should be of utmost concern to every law abiding citizen of Pakistan. It is not the first time that a government agency like the FIA has launched into action against a well reputed politician and human rights defender on the basis of a random complaint filed by a random and unknown person. In fact, it has become a well-documented practice of government agencies to use such complaints filed by such individuals against those known for their activism.
The letter reiterates that Farhatullah Babar is a well known human rights activist and in the course of his tenure as a Senator he has always spoken for the most vulnerable groups and marginalized segments of the society, regardless of their race, gender or political affiliations. He continues to participate in protests and rallies meant to safeguard fundamental human rights. His efforts and his struggle for rights and justice over the years have led him to confront the undemocratic forces in Pakistan several times but he has always stood his ground based on his principles.
“It is important to stand in solidarity with Farhatullah Babar and against the witch hunt launched against him. He is an important voice for the oppressed and is at the forefront of the human rights movement in Pakistan. The FIA should withdraw its notices and stop the investigation against him immediately. At the same time, the government should clarify why such action was initiated in the first place and should reign in its agencies, including the FIA and others, and stop them from harassing human rights defenders of Pakistan,” the letter concludes.
Farhatullah Babar’s various stances
Over time Farhatullah Babar has held up many human rights violations for the authorities to see – even when his own political party has been in power. A seasoned politician with a long and distinguished career, he has consistently spoken out against rights abuses, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and restrictions on freedom of expression. He has also been a vocal supporter of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), which advocates for the rights of the Pashtun community.
The former Senator is known for his bold and clear positions against enforced disappearances, internment centers, arbitrary detentions, weaponising of laws to curb freedoms of expression and association, and misuse of authority by government and security agencies.
Below are some of the positions that Babar has taken as well as the statements he has given:
- Raising concerns over the state’s alleged role in enforced disappearances, specifically mentioning the case of journalist Ahmed Noorani’s missing brothers. Babar has been active in the assembly as well, taking up the case of missing persons.
- Questioning the relevance and pronouncements of the CII, particularly its stance on DNA evidence in rape cases. Babar questioned whether the CII was still a legal entity after submitting its final report to Parliament in 1997. He criticized the CII’s declaration that DNA test results are not acceptable as primary evidence in rape cases, contrasting it with the admissibility of such evidence worldwide and a recent Supreme Court verdict. He recalled other controversial pronouncements by the CII, such as rejecting a bill for elderly homes and the Women Protection Bill 2006. He argued that the CII had become redundant due to the Federal Shariat Court.
- Rights of Afghan Refugees. Babar has been consistently commenting on the rights of Afghans living in Pakistan and the discrimination they have faced especially during deportation measures. Policies concerning Afghan refugees and the alleged lack of parliamentary input in their formulation. He stated that policies concerning Afghan refugees are made by the establishment without the input of Parliament. He linked this lack of input and the establishment’s “Jihad Project” to the “three Ds” afflicting Afghan refugees: death, destruction, and displacement.
Military’s Involvement in Politics and Governance
Farhatullah Babar is known to be a fierce critic of the military. He has consistently taken a critical stance on the role and influence of the military establishment in Pakistan. For example he has repeatedly called for an end to the military establishment’s involvement in political and electoral matters, including what he terms “political engineering” and “reverse engineering” in the lead-up to elections.
He has also expressed concern over the alleged shift of powers from civilian institutions in Islamabad to the military establishment in Rawalpindi.
He once also strictly condemned the military courts.
“NO to the military courts…lest it happens that Pakistan’s judiciary is militarised and the military becomes judicialised, adding that such a situation would be very dangerous for the country,” he said in a Karachi press conference once. He also raised objections to the deployment of the army in Saudi Arabia, terming it “tantamount to bypassing the parliament.”
Concerning commercial activities of the military, Babar has advocated for a gradual and planned shift of businesses and commercial activities from the military to the private sector to ensure a level playing field for investors and make indigenous industry viable. He has pointed out the lack of transparency and data regarding the benefits of military-run businesses.
He has emphasized the need for all institutions, including the military, to be under the ambit of accountabily. He has questioned the lack of publicly available rules and regulations governing the retirement benefits of high-ranking military officers, implying a lack of transparency.
He has expressed concerns over the imbalance of power between civilian and military institutions. While acknowledging that institutional dialogues occur worldwide, he noted that the situation in Pakistan is “much more complicated.”
He suggested that discouraging debate about the military’s changing role would not benefit the institution. He would likely oppose any measures aimed at criminalizing criticism of the armed forces, viewing it as a curb on freedom of expression.
A complaint against veteran human rights defender and political leader from the Pakistan People’s Party (@PPP_Org) Farhatullah Babar, has sent a wave of distress through the civil society, who have termed this move a tactic to pressure the former senator into silence.
A complaint against veteran human rights defender and political leader from the Pakistan People's Party (@PPP_Org) Farhatullah Babar, has sent a wave of distress through the civil society, who have termed this move a tactic to pressure the former senator into silence.
The… pic.twitter.com/su3xgjSuqI
— Voicepk.net (@voicepkdotnet) April 9, 2025
Condemnation
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has also strongly condemned the FIA’s actions. PPP MNA Shazia Marri described the inquiry as “baseless” and “regrettable,” highlighting Babar’s decades-long struggle for the rights of the oppressed.
“It is extremely concerning that the FIA has initiated a baseless inquiry against Farhatullah Babar,” said Marri. “For decades, Babar sahib stood with the oppressed, raised his voice for human rights and demanded accountability before the authorities with dignity and moral insight.”
Marri questioned the timing of the inquiry, noting that Babar has not held public office for over a decade. She called the inquiry “not only untimely but also appears to be motivated by questionable intentions.”
Former Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry also expressed his shock at the inquiry, describing Mr. Babar as “one of the finest souls in Pakistani politics.” He lauded Babar’s integrity and his long-standing commitment to democracy and republican values.
Background
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) inquiry targeting former Senator Farhatullah Babar is based on allegations of corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, and illicit asset accumulation, and has raised serious concerns about the state of freedom of speech and the rule of law in Pakistan.
The FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle initiated the probe based on a complaint filed by a private citizen. Farhatullah Babar, a prominent member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and a vocal advocate for human rights, appeared before the agency before the Eid holidays. He was presented with a questionnaire detailing the allegations and seeking information about his financial affairs.
Babar has publicly stated that he is cooperating with the investigation but has also raised questions about its timing and motives. He emphasized that he has not held any public office since 2013, when he served as spokesperson for then-President Asif Ali Zardari. The fact that the inquiry stems from a private complaint, rather than an official referral or suo moto action, has fueled suspicions about its legitimacy.
Concerns over freedom of speech
The FIA’s inquiry has raised broader concerns about the state of freedom of speech and the rule of law in Pakistan. Many observers believe that Babar is being targeted for his outspoken criticism of the establishment and his advocacy for greater transparency and accountability.
Critics of the inquiry argue that it sends a chilling message to anyone who dares to challenge the status quo. They fear that it could lead to a further shrinking of space for dissent and create a climate of fear, where individuals are afraid to express their opinions.
The timing of the inquiry, following Babar’s recent comments on sensitive political issues, has led many to suspect that it is a politically motivated attempt to silence him. The swiftness with which the FIA acted on a private complaint, particularly given the serious nature of the allegations, has also raised concerns about the agency’s impartiality.
The FIA inquiry against Farhatullah Babar is being seen as a test for Pakistan’s democracy. The way the investigation is conducted and the outcome of the case will have significant implications for the future of freedom of expression and the rule of law in the country.
The case has also sparked a renewed debate about the role of state institutions in Pakistan and the extent to which they are being used to suppress dissent. Many are calling for reforms to ensure that these institutions are truly independent and accountable.