THE recent notice sent by the FIA to former senator Farhatullah Babar is deeply troubling — and revealing. Ostensibly based on a private citizen’s complaint alleging corruption and misuse of office, the inquiry appears designed less to establish facts than to intimidate a long-standing critic of state overreach. That Mr Babar has not held any public office in over a decade — and served only in an honorary capacity during his last political assignment — raises serious questions about the nature of the complaint itself. The FIA acted with unseemly haste, summoning him just before the Eid holidays, without even sharing a copy of the complaint or supporting documentation. Mr Babar’s public record speaks for itself. As a legislator, he championed progressive laws and human rights causes, which ranged from missing persons to transparency in state institutions. Even in retirement, he has remained an active voice for the voiceless — from supporting marginalised groups to demanding greater clarity on the mandate of intelligence agencies. His recent use of the Right to Information law to probe sensitive areas of governance may well explain why the state seems uncomfortable with his persistence and moral clarity.

It is regrettable that rather than engage with the legitimate issues he raises, the state appears to be resorting to coercive tactics to silence him. The HRCP has rightly termed the move “a dangerous precedent” — one that undermines the credibility of institutions and signals a continued intolerance for dissenting views. In any democracy, criticism of the state should not be met with reprisal, but with reflection and reform. The FIA’s actions will only further the perception that accountability mechanisms are selectively employed, targeting those who dare to speak out. If the state still wishes to be seen as democratic, it must cease and desist from this example of lawfare. It must stop stifling voices like Mr Babar’s and instead, listen to them.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2025