Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is concerned by threats issued to Roznama Adalat Akhbar’s editor Sherbaz Muneer and journalist Zafar Mughal in Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. We urge relevant authorities to ensure that journalists are able to safely do their work without fear of consequences. 

According to Mughal, threats follow a news story published in Daily Adalat on April 5, detailing the removal of two sub-inspectors by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police due to suspected connections to criminal elements.

On April 18, Mughal found a handwritten letter in his mailbox containing violent threats against him and his editor, Sherbaz Muneer. The letter explicitly warned them to refrain from reporting on police officials and threatened to burn their office and harm them if they did not comply. 

It stated: “Zafar Mughal, journalist, and Sherbaz Muneer, editor, you both published a news story against Arshad Gujjar Sialkoti on April 5 in Adalat newspaper. Now prepare yourselves, we will see you and Sherbaz. You will remember this, your journalism will end. We will burn your office. You will never publish any news regarding the police officials. Prepare yourselves, and also inform your DIG friend that he can do what he wants, we will also see him. We will also burn his DIG house, and he will not live in Mirpur anymore. You are being a puppet of the DIG, we will shoot both of you, and will end your journalism.” 

Upon receiving the letter, Mughal filed an application to DIG Police Chaudhary Sajjad Hussain, describing the threatening incident. The First Information Report (FIR) 121/24 was lodged at the Thothal police station on April 22, under Section 506 of the Azad Penal Code (APC), which addresses criminal intimidation involving threats of death or severe injury. Following the FIR, the direct threats stopped.

Editor Sherbaz Muneer told PPF on April 23 that he received a threatening call four or five days before the letter, but it was in Punjabi, and he did not fully understand it. He initially dismissed it as a typical call for a crime journalist, but after receiving the threatening letter, he considered that the call might have been related.

On April 23, SHO Wajahat Kazmi told PPF that the police investigation has just begun, and no leads have been found yet. 

An emergency meeting of the Pakistan Professional Union of Journalists (PPUJ) was held on April 19 to discuss the situation, with Central President Khawar Bukhari and other officials participating. The PPUJ condemned the threats and urged the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the DIG Mirpur Division, and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mirpur to ensure the arrest of those responsible for threatening journalists and provide security to them.

The PPF calls on the authorities to act swiftly to ensure the safety of journalists and prevent future threats against media personnel.

The federal government, in a bid to uphold the integrity and security of the electoral process, has announced the temporary suspension of cellular services in specific districts of Punjab and Balochistan during the by-elections scheduled for April 21 and 22.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) revealed in a statement issued on April 20 that, upon directives from the Ministry of Interior, cellular services will be halted in designated districts of the two provinces for a duration of two days.

“This decision has been taken to safeguard the integrity and security of the electoral process,” emphasized the PTA.

Earlier on the same day, the provincial administration of Punjab submitted a formal request to the federal government seeking the suspension of mobile internet services in 13 districts and tehsils of the province on April 21, the day of the by-elections.

The request, forwarded by the Punjab Home Department to the Ministry of Interior, aimed at maintaining law and order across the province during the electoral process and to prevent any untoward incidents from occurring.

As per the letter submitted by the provincial authorities, the suspension of mobile internet services is specifically requested for districts including Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Sadiqabad, Kot Chutta, and Dera Ghazi Khan. Moreover, tehsils such as Talagang, Chakwal, Kallar Kahar, Gujarat, Ali Pur Chatha, Zafarwal, and Bhakkar are also included in the request for service suspension.

The by-elections, planned for April 21, are scheduled  to occur in 21 constituencies, covering both National and Provincial Assembly seats. This includes five National Assembly seats, 12 Punjab Assembly seats, and two each in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan assemblies.

Murtaza Ali Shah, a reporter for Geo News and The News London, is facing life-threatening intimidation from the Indian state due to his extensive coverage of Khalistan issues, according to the Sikh Federation UK.

Dabinderjit Singh, leader of the pro-Khalistan British Sikh organisation, went public with this information during an interview with the Sikh Channel Akaal TV. The Sikh Federation has disseminated this information widely through social media channels and the interview.

Singh, a retired civil servant who established the Sikh Federation a decade ago, alleges that Shah’s inclusion on an Indian government hit list stems from his dedicated coverage of Sikh issues, with a particular focus on Khalistan Referendum activities and the group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which India has banned.

“Murtaza Ali Shah covers Sikh issues for Geo TV but is not a Sikh. In particular, Murtaza Shah has been covering the Khalistan Referendum organised by Sikhs For Justice in the UK, Canada, Switzerland, and Italy. He has been reaching to these places from London for coverage,” Singh explained, directly connecting Shah’s journalistic work to the threats he faces.

The Metropolitan Police have been made aware of the threats to Shah’s life.

Singh expressed deep concern, stating that the UK’s intelligence center, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), “monitors everything ” and must therefore be aware of the danger faced by activists.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, comprising Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, addressed critical issues related to media freedom, the spread of misinformation, and the harassment of journalists on April 2.

The bench had taken up the Press As­­sociation of the Supreme Court’s (PAS) challenge to the “roving in­­quiries” by the Federal Investi­gation Agency (FIA) and summons being issued by a Joint Investi­ga­tion Team (JIT) on vague allegations of a so-called explicit and malicious campaign against the superior judiciary and its judges.”

Court Summons Six Petitioners 

During the hearing, CJP Isa discussed the intentions behind a 2022 petition filed by Advocate Haider Waheed. This petition, representing a diverse group including former police chief Syed Ibne Hussain, former joint secretary Hassan Mehmood, and others, sought to mandate the government to enforce a specific code of conduct to prevent the defamation of national institutions.

The application was filed on September 13, 2022, requesting the apex court to ensure the federal government, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) uphold Article 19 of the Constitution, aimed to establish a uniform regulator for all media platforms. This was in response to perceived unequal speech regulation and the challenges in addressing institutional defamation within existing legal frameworks.

During the proceedings on April 2, the absence of the petitioners and their representatives led CJP Isa to question the abrupt decision to withdraw the petition after two years, hinting at underlying motives and their impact on press freedom. He observed the varied backgrounds of the applicants, raising questions about their unified interest in regulating media and critiquing the media’s selective reporting on the case.

Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan was called to address this matter, he labeled the application as an abuse of process. CJP highlighted the need for formal notification to all involved parties, emphasizing the significance of understanding the application’s impact on freedom of expression.  The court emphasized the importance of the petitioners’ presence in future hearings to clarify their intentions and the outcomes they initially sought.  

The six petitioners, including former police chief Syed Ibne Hussain from Lahore, former joint secretary Hassan Mehmood and Advocate Kosain Faisal from Islamabad, Advocate Mohammad Asif of the Chakwal Bar, Wings College Principal Prof Abrar Ahmed and senior vice chairman of International Human Rights Movement Raja Sher Bilal from Chakwal were summoned to address the abrupt change in their legal position and to provide clarity on their intentions and the desired outcomes of their initial petition. 

Fake News and Misinformation Discussion

CJP Isa highlighted the serious impact of fake news and misinformation, especially when targeting the judiciary, noting that such activities could be financially motivated. The discussion also touched on the broader implications for press freedom and the ethical responsibilities of media outlets and individuals on social media platforms.

Underscoring his point, CJP has expressed strong disapproval regarding false reports circulated about his wife’s alleged presence during a full court meeting. The CJP emphasized the misleading nature of these reports and questioned why his wife would need to issue a denial about such an obviously false claim.  

During the proceedings, CJP Isa addressed Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed, the counsel representing the Press As­­sociation of the Supreme Court, probing the disciplinary measures against journalists who propagate falsehoods, by questioning, “If a journalist is found to be lying, will they terminate his membership?”

Responding to this, Ahmed clarified that a journalist’s membership could indeed be terminated following a show-cause notice.  The discussion then moved to the effectiveness of defamation laws, with Ahmed highlighting the stringent defamation framework in the UK, which has led to Pakistani news outlets facing cessation due to hefty fines. Chief Justice Isa emphasized the importance of internal accountability mechanisms within institutions for societal progress.

Matiullah Jan’s abduction

After addressing the initial matters, CJP Isa inquired about any urgent cases, leading Barrister Ahmed to mention the case of journalist Matiullah Jan. The Chief Justice remarked on the clear-cut nature of Jan’s case, highlighted by video evidence of his abduction, and questioned the government’s apparent inaction in advertising its search for the involved parties. He warned that the government’s failure to act could result in an unfavorable court order.

On July 21, 2020, Jan was abducted from the country’s capital Islamabad and later released after twelve hours.

The session concluded with Chief Justice Isa expressing concerns over the selective and sometimes completely fabricated news reporting. The court emphasized the need for a detailed decision to better understand the limits of freedom of expression. The bench sought written comments from respondents, and the hearing was adjourned for date-in-office (indefinite period). 

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) welcomes journalist and YouTuber Asad Ali Toor’s release from jail after his bail was approved on March 16. We urge authorities to safeguard the rights of journalists protected under the law instead of harassing them through the issuance of notices, arrests, and investigations.

Toor’s arrest on the grounds of an investigation into an alleged smear campaign against the judiciary displayed the heavy-handedness of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). 

Additionally, during court proceedings on March 8, before Additional Sessions Judge Tahir Abbas Supra, the FIA prosecutor told the court that Toor’s devices had been confiscated and his social media accounts were examined, Dawn reported. His lawyer, Hadi Ali, also told the court that the journalist’s mobile had been taken. This is in complete violation of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act 2021, which protects a journalist’s right to privacy and non-disclosure of sources. 

On March 15, the Islamabad High Court had told a trial court to take up Toor’s bail petition after it had been postponed till March 18 due to the investigation officer being ill, Dawn reported. On March 16, the trial court Special Judge Central Humayun Dilawar approved his bail, after which Toor was released from Adiala Jail.

Toor’s arrest

On January 17, a joint investigation team was formed to investigate a smear campaign against judges. According to Dawn, reports were shared on social media that the FIA Cyber Crime Wing issued notices to approximately 47 journalists after noticing a “smear campaign against judges.” 

One of the recipients of the notices, Toor, uploaded a copy on X, formerly Twitter, which included details such as the inquiry number, the name of the complainant (Anees Ur Rehman), and the gist of the allegations. The notice directed the journalist to appear before and record his version at the FIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre on January 31.

According to Dawn, after meeting with representatives of the Press Association of the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court Journalists Association, Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, on January 27, took suo-motu notice of the “alleged harassment” of journalists and made a three-member bench to take up the case along with another case from 2021 at the request of the Press Association of the Supreme Court regarding harassment of journalists, the report added.

On January 30, the apex court gave media professionals time till the general elections to appear before the FIA. The Attorney General of Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, added that the notices against the journalists would be taken up after the elections, Geo reported.

After the general elections that took place on February 8, the process of notices by the FIA began again. Days prior to his arrest on February 26, Toor had responded to the earlier notice, and on

February 23, he was interrogated at the FIA offices for multiple hours.

Toor was arrested by the FIA on February 26, when he appeared before the FIA Cyber Crime Wing in Islamabad in response to the latest of a series of notices issued to him, he was arrested.

A copy of the First Information Report (FIR), registered under Sections 9, 10, and 24 of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA), made sweeping and general allegations that Toor had with “malafide intentions and ulterior motives, built a false narrative and started malicious/obnoxious and explicit campaign intentionally and publicly against the modesty of civil servants/government officials and state institutions of Pakistan as well as glorifying anti-state activities through his social media accounts […]”

Following his arrest, the FIA was first granted a five-day physical remand of Toor, which was extended by two days. On March 8, he was sent to jail on a 14-day judicial remand. 

—-ENDS——

On March 13, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Faisal Javed Khan was indicted by the District and Sessions Court in Islamabad in a case of threatening a journalist. The indictment follows a complaint filed against Javed Khan at the Bani Gala police station on August 10, 2022. 

During a press conference on August 9, 2022, held by then-Senator of PTI Javed Khan,  three journalists—Wajid Mughal from 24 News channel, Arslan Baloch from Dunya News, and Mudassar Javed from Dawn News—were prevented from setting up their cameras and were forcibly pushed away by PTI party workers in Islamabad. This occurred because the journalists did not include the party workers in their camera frames. 

Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah presided over the proceedings on March 13, where the defense counsel, Sardar Masroof, requested time to review the documents and urged for an adjournment without a hearing. However, the court rejected the plea and proceeded to indict the former senator.The court further scheduled May 13 for the statements of witnesses and adjourned the hearing. Javed Khan’s legal team has maintained his innocence, denying the allegations brought against him.

Human rights activists and civil society organizations have demanded the immediate restoration of X, formerly known as Twitter, in a joint statement. They expressed grave concerns about the escalating occurrences of internet shutdowns and the blocking of social media platforms.

The joint statement issued on March 13 highlights the urgent need for the restoration of access to X, emphasizing the detrimental impact of internet shutdowns and platform blockages on freedom of expression and access to information in Pakistan.

Access to X was disrupted once again from February 17 and has intermittently continued to be experienced, cutting off citizens’ right to freely access information. This closure underscores the urgency of the activists’ demands for immediate action.

Additionally, the statement calls for reform in internet policies, urging authorities to act transparently in decisions affecting internet freedom and to repeal legal provisions enabling censorship, such as Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). It also demands clarity on the reasons and legal basis for the recent blocking of X and other affected platforms.

Furthermore, the joint statement warns against future actions that obstruct the free flow of information and political discourse, urging authorities to uphold Pakistan’s commitments to international human rights standards, including the right to freedom of expression and access to information under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In the joint statement, they urged the government and public bodies to:

– Immediately unblock X, formerly Twitter, in Pakistan.

– Repeal sections of the law, such as Section 37 of PECA, that enable censorship and violate Article 19 (right to freedom of speech and press freedom) and Article 19-A (right of access to information).

– Act with transparency on decisions that impact the free use of the Internet, including for political and economic purposes.

– Issue a statement of clarification outlining the reasons and legal basis for the recent blocking of “X” and other affected platforms.

– Avoid future actions that obstruct the free flow of information and adversely affect political discourse within the countries and take back all legislative proposals expanding control and censorship over the internet, including the e-safety bill from the previous government’s tenure should not be revived.

– Abide by Pakistan’s commitments to uphold freedom of expression and right to access to information under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Signatories include: 

Organizations: AGHS, Bolo Bhi, Media Matters for Democracy (MMfD), Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA), Human Rights Watch (HRW), Freedom Network (FN), Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), Bytes for All, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Women Democratic Front.

Individuals: Muhammad Aftab Alam, Iqbal Khattak, Adnan Rehmat, Shafique Chaudhry, Haroon Baloch, Usama Khilji, Zoya Rehman, Abdullah Nizamani, Zohra Yusuf, Salima Hashmi, Imdad Khoso, Ammar Rashid and Zeeshan Ahmed.

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) welcomes observations by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa that “intimidation of the press would not be tolerated at any costs.” However, PPF is also vary of observations made by the top judge regarding the process of verification that the media should be implementing and the limits of free expression under Article 19. Such observations by the top judge open the door for doubt toward the media and for state bodies like the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take action against journalists.

By questioning the role of the media in airing the allegations by former Rawal­pindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha,  the CJP’s stance on not tolerating intimidation of the press is negated as it questions the intentions of the media. The media must be able to determine its own standards and procedures for verification.

During a hearing of the harassment of journalists and a joint petition about inquiries by the FIA against journalists, CJP Isa said that intimidation of the press would not be tolerated at any cost since it involves key fundamental rights.

According to Dawn, during the proceedings, the SC bench inquired whether notices issued to journalists were based on a report by judges or the registrar of the apex court, they Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) said they had not. Additionally, the chief justice had rejected and “expressed serious displeasure” on reports furnished by the capital police and the FIA on harassment of journalists.

In January, notices were issued by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to several dozen journalists and media professionals for being part of an “explicit and malicious campaign against Honorable Judges of [the] Supreme Court of Pakistan.” On February 26, journalist and YouTuber Asad Ali Toor was arrested by FIA in connection to the alleged smear campaign.

CJP Isa’s observations are welcome as they question the basis for the notices issued to the journalists and provide a mechanism to hold the FIA to account.

During the same proceeding, When discussing the allegations made by Chatha about rigging in which he specifically named the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the chief justice of being involved, which he later withdrew, CJP Isa said that the allegations were run by television channels without any verification. He added that no journalist had asked Chata for proof of his allegations.

“When the credibility of the institutions are tarnished, we all get affected,” the top judge was quoted saying.

The chief justice said that Article 19 of the Consitution “did not give a license to level baseless allegations.”

While the chief justice has a right to defend himself against allegations and to question the credibility of such allegations, it is not the job of the media to work as a court of law and dissect the credibility of the allegations. The media must operate within its own ethical and professional standards that ensure verified and credible news is aired.

Additionally, these remarks negate his observation that intimidation of the press would not be tolerated as they leave the door open for questioning the media’s intentions and, in turn, for taking action against them.

For the media to be able to work safely without fear of reprisal, as has been observed recently in the alleged smear campaign against the judiciary that led to the arrest of journalist Asad Ali Toor, we urge the top judge to focus on ensuring the safety of the media and act against the heavy-handedness of the state towards journalists and media professionals. 

——ENDS—–

On March 12, police issued a ban on media coverage outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where former Prime Minister Imran Khan was meeting with party leaders and workers.

The ban, announced by Rawalpindi police, restricts journalists from gathering or covering events outside the jail premises.

After the conclusion of the meeting between the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)  , Imran Khan, and party leaders at Adiala Jail, journalists eagerly awaited the emergence of party leaders and officials to glean insights into the discussions held behind bars.

As PTI leaders and others exited the jail premises, journalists rushed to cover their speeches and media talks, eager to provide the public with updates on the meeting with Khan, who is currently serving a prison term.

Journalists met with obstacles as police had placed barriers outside the area designated for the parking of news channels’ vehicles opposite Gate No. 5 of the jail.

Security personnel informed journalists that there would be no media coverage permitted outside the jail premises that day, instructing media teams to stand at a distance of two kilometers from the jail.

The post Police Ban Media Coverage Outside Adiala Jail on Imran Khan’s Meeting Day first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

In a notable session of the National Assembly on March 3 in Islamabad, the state broadcaster, Pakistan Television (PTV), abruptly halted the live broadcast of a speech by Omar Ayub Khan, a prominent member.  of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-aligned Sunni Ittehad Council.  This occurrence took place right after the newly-elected Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s address, highlighting a dramatic moment in Pakistan’s political discourse.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had extended the floor to Ayub Khan, signaling an opportunity for the opposition to voice their perspectives. However, the live transmission by PTV was suspended at that moment. This interruption did not go unnoticed; Deputy Speaker  Ghulam Mustafa Shah of the National Assembly swiftly intervened, directing PTV to resume the live coverage of Ayub Khan’s address.

During a National Assembly session on March 4, Ayub Khan mentioned his previous speech was not broadcast live, contrasting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s fully live-streamed address. He highlighted that his speech, grounded in facts, faced interruptions, whereas Sharif’s did not. Ayub announced plans to move a privilege motion against this discrepancy.

The post PTV Censorship Sparks Outcry in National Assembly: Omar Ayub Khan Speech Interrupted first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).