Pakistan: FIA freezes bank accounts of journalist Asad Toor and parrot sellers

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Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has frozen the bank accounts of independent journalist Asad Ali Toor and several bird sellers across the country over transactions linked to the sale of parrots.

The issue first came to light in April when Karachi-based parrot seller Rozi Khan, 29, found his account inaccessible after a sale in Islamabad. Attempting to withdraw funds, he was met with an “Invalid bank account” message. According to The Friday Times, Rozi later learned from his bank manager that the account had been frozen on April 10 under FIA directives. “I sell birds to all sorts of people,” he said. “I had no idea that selling parrots to a journalist could lead to this.”

The crackdown reportedly happened in multiple cities, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Sargodha, affecting sellers who had done business with Toor. One such seller, 60-year-old Nadeem Nasir from Lahore, said his account was frozen without notice after a cheque bounced. “I have known Asad for five years,” Nasir told Al Jazeera. “But the last time he bought parrots from me was in 2023 or early 2024.”

Asad Ali Toor, a vocal government critic with over 335,000 YouTube subscribers, is known for his love of exotic parrots—spending more than Rs 50,000 monthly on their care. His bank accounts, along with those of his parents, brother, and cousin, were also frozen. “It’s not just me,” Toor said. “Even people who sold me birds are being punished. It’s absurd.”

There has been no official statement from the FIA or Pakistani authorities on the matter, and no formal charges have been announced.

Earlier this year, Toor’s YouTube channel was briefly suspended for alleged “anti-state” content, but a local court reversed the ban within two days.