Global Rights Bodies Demand Action on Missing Pakistani Journalists
ISLAMABAD: Nine press freedom and human rights organisations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take immediate action to halt what they described as Pakistan’s “rapidly deteriorating” press freedom situation, according to Dawn News.
In a letter to the prime minister, the groups said journalists in Pakistan had recently disappeared, been detained or investigated, and faced restrictions while reporting from some parts of the country. Some journalists had also lost their jobs after coming under pressure from government and law-enforcement agencies, they said.
“These developments have further eroded the ability of Pakistani journalists to report freely and safely,” the organisations said.
The signatories also expressed concern over the increasing use of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, known as Peca, and investigations by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency against journalists reporting on issues of public interest.
They criticised restrictions on reporting in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, internet and telecommunications blackouts, regulatory action against broadcasters and new rules requiring journalists working for international media organisations to obtain official authorisation before reporting outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
The groups warned that public order, national security and claims of misinformation must not be used as unlimited grounds to suppress legitimate journalism.
They called for the immediate release and safe return of journalists Razi Tahir and Muhammad Saif, who they said were taken to an undisclosed location on August 1. They also demanded a transparent investigation into a June attack on reporter Mian Zahid Owaisi.
The organisations urged the government to withdraw restrictions on foreign media and end the use of information blackouts to block reporting. They also alleged that Al Jazeera’s website had been blocked after criticism of its coverage of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The groups further raised concerns over interference in independent broadcasters. They said Aaj TV dismissed veteran journalist Munizae Jahangir after 11 years and cancelled her current affairs programme following pressure from authorities. They also noted that Geo News’ broadcasting licence had been suspended for 15 days.
In a report published in May, the Freedom Network said Pakistan’s media was facing an existential threat marked by shrinking press freedom, deteriorating safety and growing job insecurity.
