In a bizarre twist of bureaucratic enforcement, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has taken the unusual step of freezing the bank accounts of independent journalist Asad Ali Toor and several bird sellers across multiple cities, citing transactions linked to the trade of parrots. This seemingly innocuous pet-related commerce has now become a flashpoint in a wider debate about press freedom, due process, and the overreach of state surveillance mechanisms.
The issue came to light in April 2025 when Rozi Khan, a 29-year-old parrot seller based in Karachi, attempted to access his bank account following a sale in Islamabad. His attempt to withdraw money was met with a cryptic “Invalid bank account” message. It was only later, through his bank manager, that Rozi discovered his account had been frozen on April 10 under the directive of the FIA. Shocked and confused, Rozi remarked, “I sell birds to all sorts of people. I had no idea that selling parrots to a journalist could lead to this.”
Rozi’s case wasn’t isolated. Bird sellers from other cities—including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Sargodha—reported similar experiences. All had one thing in common: transactions involving the sale of parrots to journalist Asad Ali Toor. One such seller, Nadeem Nasir, a 60-year-old avian merchant from Lahore, described how his account was inexplicably frozen following a bounced cheque. “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.”
The Journalist at the Center of the Storm
Asad Ali Toor is no stranger to controversy. A vocal critic of the Pakistani government and military establishment, Toor has built a large following on YouTube, with over 335,000 subscribers who tune in to his commentary and investigative reporting. But beyond his political content, Toor is also known for a very different passion—exotic parrots. His fondness for the birds is well documented, and he reportedly spends over Rs 50,000 a month on their upkeep.
Yet, it is this hobby that has landed him—and those associated with it—in legal limbo. The FIA has not only frozen Toor’s personal bank accounts but also those belonging to his parents, brother, and cousin. “It’s not just me,” Toor said. “Even people who sold me birds are being punished. It’s absurd.”
While the transactions involved are ostensibly linked to parrot purchases, the breadth of the crackdown suggests a more targeted campaign. Toor’s YouTube channel was previously suspended for allegedly spreading “anti-state” content, though a court later reversed the ban within two days. This latest episode, however, seems to mark a new chapter—where the state is pursuing financial strangulation rather than direct censorship.
SAVING PARROTS, CENSORING PRESS
— Your Views Your News (@urviewsurnews) July 20, 2025
Rozi Khan sold parrots to outspoken reporter Asad Ali Toor
FIA froze his account on April 10- no warning, no reason
Other bird sellers across Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi hit too#Journalism #journalist #press #Pakistan #PeterObi #ASTRO pic.twitter.com/H1G3qbeLQV
What raises further alarm is the lack of transparency. No formal charges have been filed against Toor or any of the bird sellers affected. There has been no official explanation from the FIA, and none of the individuals impacted were given prior notice before their accounts were frozen. For many, this silent financial punishment feels more like retribution than regulation.
Collateral Damage in a Growing Crackdown
The financial freeze has left a trail of economic uncertainty. Bird sellers, already operating in a niche and unstable market, are now facing business paralysis. For some, the frozen accounts mean halted transactions, delayed payments to suppliers, and a complete inability to sustain daily operations. Rozi Khan, for example, said he had to borrow money from friends just to keep his shop open.
The targeting of bird sellers has sparked widespread confusion in the trade community. Some suspect that the transactions were flagged by automated systems and escalated due to Toor’s name being involved, while others believe the FIA is deliberately using obscure legal tools to harass the journalist and anyone connected to him. The chilling message is clear: even casual interactions with dissenting voices can have consequences.
Nadeem Nasir, who has been in the bird-selling business for over three decades, expressed his disbelief at the situation. “We are simple people who deal in birds, not politics,” he said. “Why should our lives be turned upside down because of one customer?” His concern is echoed by others in the community, who fear further reprisals or even criminal investigations if the crackdown continues.
Human rights organizations and press freedom advocates have also weighed in, viewing the FIA’s actions as part of a broader trend of using financial and legal tools to silence critical voices. In the past few years, Pakistan has seen a growing use of cybercrime laws and financial monitoring systems to target journalists, activists, and opposition figures—often without due process or clear evidence.
A Legal Vacuum and the Role of Institutions
What makes this episode particularly troubling is the legal ambiguity under which it has unfolded. Freezing someone’s bank account without prior notice or a court order is a serious infringement of their rights, yet this is precisely what appears to have happened. In the absence of formal charges or judicial oversight, the actions of the FIA fall into a grey zone—one that can be exploited for political ends.
Legal experts argue that such measures must meet strict thresholds under Pakistan’s laws, especially when they involve individuals not even accused of a crime. Yet, the accounts of multiple sellers—some of whom hadn’t even dealt with Toor in over a year—suggest the net was cast far wider than warranted. This points to either a gross overreach or a calculated effort to exert pressure through guilt by association.
Compounding the issue is the silence from official channels. Neither the FIA nor the Ministry of Interior has issued any clarification. The absence of accountability mechanisms allows such actions to persist unchecked, eroding trust in institutions and leaving citizens vulnerable to arbitrary interference.
The courts, which have in the past provided a bulwark against some excesses—such as when Toor’s YouTube ban was reversed—now face the challenge of addressing a more covert form of repression. Whether the judiciary will take notice of this new tactic remains to be seen. In the meantime, those affected remain in a state of financial limbo, with their livelihoods hanging by a thread.
The freezing of Asad Ali Toor’s bank accounts—and those of bird sellers who happened to do business with him—is more than just an odd bureaucratic misfire. It reflects a deeper problem in Pakistan’s governance structure: the use of state machinery to silence critics and intimidate anyone in their orbit. The parrot trade may seem trivial, but it has become a pretext for a campaign that threatens both civil liberties and commercial freedoms.
At a time when the country faces mounting economic challenges and public discontent, the targeting of journalists and small traders sends the wrong message. Rather than strengthening its institutions and upholding democratic principles, the Pakistani state appears to be retreating into authoritarian reflexes.
The case of Asad Ali Toor should prompt urgent questions about the limits of government power, the rights of citizens to engage in lawful commerce, and the growing entanglement between state security concerns and personal freedoms. Until transparency and accountability are restored, the chilling effect on Pakistan’s already fragile democratic space is likely to deepen.