BAJAUR: A jirga succeeded to resolve a dispute between local journalists and the staff of district headquarters hospital Khar here on Thursday.

The jirga comprised of local MNA, political leaders figures and officials of the district administration held several meetings with both the parties to resolve the issue.

The local journalists alleged that medical superintendent Dr Liqat Khan along with other staffers thrashed a local reporter, Zahid Jan, when he was busy in coverage of a protest demonstration at the hospital.

The protest was held on November 26 against delay in postmortem of two PPP workers, who were shot dead by unidentified persons in Salarzai tehsil on the same day.

The management of the hospital and journalists had announced to register cases against each other. However, the jirga persuaded them to resolve the issue amicably.

A ceremony in this regard was held at the house of Khar neighbourhood council chairman and leader of JUI-F Anwar Hussain. Besides JI local leader Qari Abdul Majeed, PPP’s Aurangzeb and officials, the ceremony was attended by jirga members, led by MNA Gul Zafar Khan, Khar tehsil council chairman and JUI-F deputy district chief Haji Said Badshah and assistant commissioner Hamza Zahoor.

The jirga members expressed their pleasure over amicable resolution of the issue. They said that a conflict between the management of district headquarters hospital and local journalists was a matter of serious concerns for them as it could affect the residents of the entire district.

Source: Dawn

The post Bajaur jirga resolves dispute between medics, journalists first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

2020 presents a grim picture for press freedom in Pakistan with multiple attempts to silence the voices of the media in the print, broadcast and online spheres.

The media in Pakistan continues to work under an environment of fear and significant constraints to press freedom. The year 2020, so far, has seen numerous attempts to silence journalists and media personnel. The use of criminal complaints, abductions and online harassment have created an environment where the media is operating under high pressure with little to no security, protection or accountability for the perpetrators of these attacks.

According to the report by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) to commemorate the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalist 2020 there have been a number of brazen attempts to intimidate and in turn silence journalists by picking them up and orchestrating their disappearances. The year saw two high profile abductions of journalists — Matiullah Jan from the capital, Islamabad and Ali Imran Syed in Karachi. Both cases were strongly condemned and the federal and provincial governments had ‘taken notice’ of the incidents. In both instances, the journalists were found safe hours after they went missing.

In Jan’s case, CCTV footage of the moments before he was abducted were circulated on social media. The Supreme Court of Pakistan took up the case of the senior journalist’s abduction and has recently rejected the report by the Islamabad Inspector General of Police.

In at least one instance during 2020, a journalist was murdered in what appeared to be an act in connection to his work. On February 16, the body of KTN news channel and Sindh-language daily Kawish, Aziz Memon, was found in a water channel in the  Naushahro Firoze district of the Sindh province.

These acts of picking up journalists show a worrying trend that appears to have been used to restrict press freedom in the country. In both cases, officials are yet to determine who was behind the acts. Such attempts of intimidation create an environment of fear for both the media and their loved ones. The lack of accountability or conclusive rulings to determine who was behind these abductions or disappearances, allows the perpetrators to get away scot free.

Journalists have also faced other forms of physical attacks such as being beaten, verbally threatened and arrested.

After being arrested in March,  almost eight months later, the Jang and Geo Media Group Editor in Chief Mir Shakilur Rehman is still imprisoned on the basis of an old property case. In at least five other instances, journalists have been arrested during 2020.

When they are not physically attacked, journalists are often threatened, a tool that can lead to self censorship by creating an environment of fear.

In August, investigative journalist Ahmad Noorani received life threats following the publication of his investigative piece regarding the business fortunes of former director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Retired Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa.

Another common trend observed during this year was the registration of First Information Reports (criminal complaints) against media personnel. These criminal complaints use similar sections of laws such as the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 and the Pakistan Penal Code. The cases registered against journalists show a growing policing of their content shared on social media platforms and accuse them of anti-state content. This raises questions about the misuse or rather overuse of laws that regulate content. It also represents a growing intolerance against free expression online. Within the span of a week, three cases registered against media workers — The Express Tribune Editor Bilal Farooqi, former Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Chairman Absar Alam and journalist Asad Ali Toor — were reported.

In 2020, journalists have faced threats not just physically but also online. Women journalists in particular have been subject to abuse and threats online. This shows that social media platforms, considered to be an open space for communication, have increasingly become areas for threats and abuse to be launched against media professionals. It also highlights the particular circumstances that women journalists in Pakistan have to work within.

During the year, the media regulatory authorities  — PEMRA and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) — have appeared to be overactive with multiple directives to restrict, control and limit the sharing of certain content.

While these bodies are essential to ensure media content follows certain guidelines, during this year, they have restricted content that is vital for the public to form opinions, remain aware of key developments in the country and to be able to freely access information. Advice and directives issued by PEMRA have played the role of controlling the information that the public has access to rather than just creating guidelines for the media to follow.

There has also been a rise in the policing of content on social media platforms. Perhaps the most drastic of steps was the short term ban on popular social media app, Tik Tok, due to complaints of “immoral/indecent content” and the platform’s failure to comply with instructions to develop a mechanism for moderation.

In 2020, the spread of the COVID-19 has also created a new set of challenges for the media to work with including remote working, ensuring protocols are in place in newsrooms and most importantly ensuring the safety and health of media workers from the virus. Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) focused on the impact of the pandemic on the media in Pakistan in its annual report published on World Press Freedom Day. This report focuses on press freedom and covers the specific restrictions to press freedom that journalists have faced in light of their coverage of the coronavirus.

At the same time, the rhetoric of the ruling party and Prime Minister Imran Khan has been dismissive towards the threats to free expression faced in the country. In an interview in September, the premier said that it was the government and ministers that felt “unprotected” not the media. He said that in Pakistan’s history, no government had received the criticism that they are.

While the media faces attacks from all fronts — whether in the physical or online sphere– and operates within a shrinking space for free expression, perpetrators of these attacks continue to enjoy impunity for their crimes. Both provincial and federal governments officials issue statements and take notice of incidents but there are very few instances of conclusive results of investigations of such incidents. Those who employ tactics to silence the voices of the media and to create an environment where journalists resort to self censorship are further emboldened by the lack of action against those who attack the media.

Meanwhile, politicians and activists have spoken up against the arrest of the man who owns the largest media group in the country. Almost all mainstream opposition political parties and leaders have condemned the action. So have international media watchdog bodies. Essentially, it is obvious the detention of Mir Shakil and the rather far-fetched cases filed against him are yet another attempt at harassment by NAB. In this case, as journalists have already said, the attempt is quite obviously to silence the media. Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman is in jail not because of corruption or other crime, but because he flatly refused to ask anchors on television shows or print media journalists from holding back on their stories or the questions they have put concerning governmental performance or the performance of specific agencies.

It is necessary for the government to understand that the primary job of the media in any situation and in any country is to highlight the weaknesses and flaws within governance and authorities which have an impact on running the country. If it fails to do so, it is essentially failing in its duty. As editor-in-chief of this group, Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman has a record of repeatedly refusing to succumb to pressure. The government must understand that at this point in time a free media is entirely essential. It is required to provide accurate news to people on all matters, including the current virus situation and also keep them informed on preventive measures or the ongoing situation. The Jang Group has in fact already begun such a campaign. It needs to be widened. Most importantly, the right to free expression safeguarded by our constitution must be protected at all costs. It is essential all those in power understand this, instead of continuing to boast about a ‘free media’ that does not exist.

Newspaper: The News

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah has said that freedom of expression comes first in fundamental human rights given in the Constitution but Pakistan stands at number 143 in freedom of expression among the world countries. He said no society can develop without freedom of expression.

“The constitutional courts of Pakistan will not let violate the freedom of expression like rights of people,” Justice Athar Minallah said, adding that “whatever is happening in India, we won’t let it happen in Pakistan.”

The IHC chief justice passed these remarks while hearing a contempt case regarding controversial comments passed by different television channels after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was bailed last year.

The court allowed the Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) to file its reply in two weeks in the contempt case. Geo Television Network’s Hamid Mir and other TV anchors, a representative of Pemra and IHC Journalists Association two presidents Amir Abbasi and Jahangir Aslam Baloch attended the proceedings.

Hamid Mir said though it was a contempt of court case, but wanted to inform that this court had earlier announced a detail judgment regarding the National Accountability Bureau’s domain to arrest the criminals.

He said the NAB officials violated the law and had arrested Jang/Geo group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, adding that the NAB’s actions could be considered as contempt of court.

The Chief Justice remarked that the court had given the detailed judgment in a separate case and Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman’s arrest could not pose contempt of court charges, saying that he had explained the term of reference about the NAB’s law.

Meanwhile, Hamid Mir told the court that Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman has extended his support for investigation and if any alleged criminals positively responding the investigation could not be detained. He said that the government has issued a notification to regulate the social media, though the federal cabinet had passed the Social Media Rules but government’s ministers told that there was not discussion on the Bill.

Barrister Jahangir Jadoon told the court that their application is on process in the same court that issued a notification to the government to respond. He told that Pemra had ordered cable operators were told to change the Geo New positions. He prayed the court to take action over steps against freedom of media. The chief justice said the court doesn’t have the powers of suo motu.

Presidents of the two factions of IHC Journalists Association Aamir Abbasi and Jahangir Aslam also appeared before the court and submitted their written replies about the case. Aamir Abbasi said journalists are doing self-accountability and press club membership of non-journalists has been terminated through scrutiny.

Hamid Mir said question mark still exists on membership of 600 journalists. The chief justice said no one should mind criticism because it is a key to moving forward. He said laws exist, but these are not acted upon. He said Pakistan is on 143rd position in freedom of expression index. He said whatever is happening in India for supressing freedom of expression, won’t be allowed to happen in Pakistan. He said rule of law will be ensured in Pakistan. He said the Pakistani courts will never allow usurpation of right of freedom of expression of citizens.

The CPNE sought some time for submitting its reply in the court which was granted. The hearing of the case was adjourned for two weeks.

The News

درخواست جمع کرانے کی آخری تاریخ جمعہ،27فروری،2020

پاکستان پریس فاوٗنڈیشن (پی پی ایف)نے پاکستان میں میڈیا کی آزادی اور حفاظت   کے فیلو شپ پروگرام کے لیے درخواستیں وصول کرنے کا اعلان کردیا۔

اس فیلو شپ پروگرام کا مقصد آزادی اظہار رائے کو فروغ دینا اور میڈیا کارکنان کو مدد فراہم کرناہے تاکہ وہ میڈیا کی آزادی اور صحافیوں کے تحفظ سے متعلق مسائل پر رپورٹس تیار کرسکیں ۔

اس فیلوشپ پروگرام میں دو ورک شاپس منعقد کی جائیں گی اور اس کے ساتھ ادارتی اور تکنیکی تعاون بھی دیا جائے گا تاکہ میڈیا کارکنان کی حفاظت پر ،اخلاقی ، قانونی ور پیشہ ورانہ صحافت کے بہتر ین معیار  کے مطابق رپور ٹس تیار کی جائیں۔منتخب افراد میں سے ہر فرد کو فیلوشپ پروگرام کے دوران چھ رپورٹس تیار کرنا ہوں  گی۔ان افراد کو زیادہ ترجیح دی جائے گی جو صحافیوں کو قتل یا زخمی کیے جانے کے مخصوص واقعات پر تفتیشی رپورٹنگ کریں۔

منتخب افراد کو سینیئر صحافیوں کی معاونت میں رکھا جائے گا جو اس فیلو شپ پروگرام کی مدت تک ان افراد کے ایڈیٹر کے فرائض انجام دیں گے۔

صحافی جو پرنٹ،ٹیلی ویژن،ریڈیو یا آن لائن میڈیا میں کم سے کم تین سال کا تجربہ رکھتے ہیں وہ اس پروگرام کے لیے درخواست دے سکتےہیں۔خواتین صحافیوں کی درخواست جمع کروانے کی حوصلہ افزائی کی جائے گی۔

بلوچستان،فاٹا،گلگت بلتستان اور آزاد کشمیر سے تعلق رکھنے والے صحافیوں کے لیےاہلیت کی بنا پر شرائط میں نرمی رکھی جاسکتی ہے۔

اس فیلوشپ پروگرام کی مدت تین ماہ ہے اور اس پروگرام میں منتخب افراد کو ساٹھ ہزار روپے(60,000)ادا کیے جائیں گے۔

،درخواست گزار کے لیے درج ذیل کاغذات بھیجنا ضروری ہی

حالیہ تصویر کے ساتھ CV

 درخواست فارم

 پروپوزل فارم

تین لنکس /شائع کردہ یا نشر شدہ رپورٹس

پر بھیجیئے۔  fellowships@pakistanpressfoundation.org درخواست

درخواستیں جمع کروانے کی آخری تاریخ جمعہ 27فروری 2020ہے۔آخری تاریخ گزرنے کے بعد موصول ہونے والی درخواستوں پر عمل نہیں کیا جائے گا۔

پروپوزل فارم کے لیے کلک کریں

درخوست فارم کے لیے کلک کریں

English translation

Last date: Thursday, February 27, 2020

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) has issued a call for applications for Fellowship program on
Media Safety and Impunity in Pakistan.

The fellowship program aims to promote freedom of expression by providing support to media professionals to produce stories related to issues on Media Safety and Impunity.

The fellowship programs will include two capacity building workshops as well as editorial and technical support to produce reports on safety of media practitioners that meet professional, ethical and legal best practices in journalism. Each selected fellow will have to produce up to six stories during this fellowship program. Preference will be given to fellows who will commit to investigating impunity for specific cases of journalists killed or injured.

Selected fellows will be paired with senior journalist who will act as fellowship editor during the period of fellowship program.

Journalists having minimum experience of three years working for print, television, radio and online media can apply for the fellowship program.

The criteria for journalists from Baluchistan, FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir may be relaxed for otherwise qualified applicants. Female journalists are encouraged to apply.

The duration of the fellowship is three months and the amount for the fellowship is sixty thousand rupees.

Applicants must send:

• Professional resume/CV with recent photograph
• Story proposal form for stories (for story proposal form click here)
• Application form (For application form click here)
• Three links/samples of published or broadcast pieces.
• Applications should be sent to fellowships@pakistanpressfoundation.org

The deadline for submitting applications is Thursday, February 27, 2020. Applications received after the due date will not be entertained.

Urdu translation

Last date for receiving applications:   Sunday January 5, 2020

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) invites applications for the 7th batch of PPF Investigative Reporting Fellowships.

The fellowships facilitate Pakistani journalists to produce investigative report that meet the professional, ethical and legal standards. PPF will provide support to journalists, to professionally investigate and report on issues relating to human rights, transparency, environment, inequity, governance and corruption.

The fellowships will include capacity building workshops as well as editorial and technical support.   Selected participants will work under the supervision of a senior journalist who will act as fellowship editor. Each fellow will be expected to produce up to six stories during this fellowship program.

Journalists with a minimum experience of three years working for print, television, radio and online media can apply for the fellowships.

The criteria for journalists from Baluchistan, FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir may be relaxed for otherwise qualified applicants. Female journalists are encouraged to apply.

The duration of the fellowship is three months and the amount for the fellowship is sixty thousand rupees.

Completed application forms, in either English or Urdu, containing the following must be received by Sunday January 5, 2020 to be considered for the award of the fellowships.

• Fellowship application form
• Professional resume/CV
• Stories proposal form
• Links or clippings of at least three articles that were published or aired in the last three years.

Applications should be sent to fellowships@pakistanpressfoundation.org

For forms, click the link below;

Application form:

https://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PPF-Investigative-Reporting-Fellowship-Application-Form.docx

Story proposal form;

https://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PPF-Investigative-Reporting-Fellowship-Story-Proposal-Form.docx

آخری تاریخ 25 جنوری، 2020

پاکستان پریس فاؤنڈیشن (پی پی ایف) کی جانب سے فیلوشپ برائے تحقیقاتی رپورٹنگ  کے ساتویں بیچ کے لئے درخواستیں موصول کی جارہی ہیں۔

فیلوشپس میں صلاحیت سازی کے لیے ورکشاپس  کے انعقاد کے علاوہ ادارتی اور تکنیکی معاونت بھی فراہم کی جائے گی۔ منتخب امیدواروں کو سینئر صحافی کے ساتھ کام کرنے کا موقع ملے گا جو فیلوشپ کے دوران   پراجیکٹ  ایڈیٹرکاکردارادا کریں گے۔ فیلوشپ پروگرام کے دوران  ہر جرنلسٹ کو چھ رپورٹس تیار کرنا ہوں گی۔

پرنٹ، ٹیلی ویژن، ریڈیو اور آن لائن میڈیا میں کم از کم تین سال کا تجربہ رکھنے والے صحافی فیلوشپس کے لیے درخواستں جمع کروا نے کے اہل ہیں۔

بلخصوص بلوچستان، فاٹا، گلگت بلتستان اور آزاد کشمیر کے صحافیوں کو اہلیت کے معیار میں رعائیت دی جا سکتی ہے۔ خواتین   صحافیوں کی درخواست دینے کے لئے حوصلہ افزائی کی جاتی ہے۔

فیلوشپ پروگرام کا دورانیہ تین ماہ اور فیلوشپ پروگرام کا وظیفہ ساٹھ ہزار روپے ہے۔

فیلو شپ کے حصول کے لئے  ،انگریزی  یا اردو میں مکمل  شدہ  ،مندرجہ زیل دستاویزات کا 25 جنوری، 2020 کو شام 5:00 تک موصول ہونا ضروری ہے۔

(فیلوشپ درخواست فارم ( فارم کے لیئے کلک کریں

تعلیمی وپیشہ ورانہ کوائف / سی وی

(اسٹوریز پروپوزل فارم ( فارم کے لیئے کلک کریں

کم از کم تین مضامین کے لنک یا تراشے جو پچھلے بارہ ماہ میں شائع یا نشر کیے گئے۔

درخواستیں دیئے گئے ای میل اڈریس پر بھیجیئے؛

درخواستیں دیئے گئے ای میل اڈریس پر بھیجیئے؛

fellowships@pakistanpressfoundation.org

]]> 8274 https://pakistanfoemonitor.org/its-sairbeens-final-goodbye-after-51-years/ Mon, 23 Dec 2019 11:58:56 +0000 https://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/?p=97375 BBC Urdu’s flagship radio programme about current affairs Sairbeen will fall silent on Dec 31 this year and will not see the New Year after having been on air for 51 years. BBC Urdu Service head Mehvish Hussain has attributed the decision to falling short wave and medium wave audiences and the “migration” of younger […]]]>

BBC Urdu’s flagship radio programme about current affairs Sairbeen will fall silent on Dec 31 this year and will not see the New Year after having been on air for 51 years.

BBC Urdu Service head Mehvish Hussain has attributed the decision to falling short wave and medium wave audiences and the “migration” of younger media users and women to digital platforms including television. The BBC says its decision is based on audience research conducted last year.

The nostalgia around Sairbeen is very strong among a generation of listeners who tuned in each evening at or around 8pm in Pakistan, half an hour later in occupied Kashmir and at 7pm in the United Arab Emirates over several decades.

Through years of dictatorship and censorship in Pakistan, Sairbeen provided a lifeline to the audience, as it was perhaps their only means of understanding what was happening in their own backyard. Its current affairs content was carefully compiled to meet their needs.

The audience responded with equal commitment. From events in 1970-71 when people in West Pakistan were told all was well in the eastern wing to the coup in 1999, Sairbeen had a devoted listenership, with some 20 million people tuning in each week.

Programme to be faded out on New Year’s eve

It was also the programme that turned accomplished broadcasters and journalists such as Athar Ali, Viqar Ahmad, Raza Ali Abidi and Asaf Jilani, among others, into household names in the subcontinent. These broadcasting giants and their colleagues ensured their output was credible and the listener showered them with adulation, and took their word as gospel.

Later the programme was to be hosted by Shafi Naqi Jamie, Ali Ahmed Khan, Obaid Siddiqui, Wusatullah Khan, Nayeema Ahmad Mehjoor, Mahpara Safdar, Mohammed Hanif, Zubair Ahmad, Nusrat Jahan, Eilya Haidar and Javed Soomro.

My own relationship with it morphed into something new with the passing years. It started when I was a college student and Gen Ziaul Haq overthrew an elected government and imposed martial law, and continued till the judicial farce that led to the sentencing and execution of then prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

I remember all through that period, then the formation of the MRD, the PIA hijacking to the launch of the MRD movement in 1983, one tuned in before dinner to get a sense of what was happening in our own country. Kashmiri friends in Srinagar and in the rest of the occupied valley talk of a similar experience.

If the MRD movement pressured Zia to move from outright autocratic rule to a watered down, non-party democratic order, one journalist chronicled that movement. Iqbal Jafri’s despatches from Sindh, which were at the heart of the resistance, kept the listeners abreast of the developments daily.

With the Soviets marching into Afghanistan in 1979, Rahimullah Yousufzai was to become the go-to man for any information on what was happening as the Pakistan- and CIA-trained and Saudi-funded ‘mujahideen’ took the battle to the Red Army. His voice became synonymous with credible reports on the landlocked, strife-torn country.

Zaffar Abbas, Idrees Bakhtiyar, Shahid Malik, Ali Hassan, Haroon Rashid, Azizullah Khan, Shakil Akhtar, Omar Farooq, Ram Dutt Tripathi, Yusuf Jamil and Altaf Hussain were other journalists whose voice reports from across the subcontinent were a source of credible information for a generation of Sairbeen ­listeners.

As a journalist I was asked to join the reporting team that was covering the elections in 1993. The following year the BBC offered me a job in London and I cut my teeth on Sairbeen under the stewardship of Viqar Ahmad (working weekends) after having been trained in the basics of broadcasting by Rashid Ashraf.

I worked on the programme when it went from half an hour to an hour. And then a year later as Service Editor integrated the whole 60 minutes into a rolling news and current affairs programme with a dedicated editor, by and large dispensing with translated despatches and relying on voice reports, interviews and radio packages.

The days such as the one I now recall must have happened innumerable times during Sairbeen’s life but I must share this personal experience. When we went on air on Oct 12, 1999, Gen Pervez Musharraf had been sacked as the army chief and by the time we concluded the programme an hour later, Musharraf was the country’s new ruler. Journalism does not get any more exciting and challenging.

A listener once wrote in from Drigh Colony, just across from the Karachi airport, to say that when his TV transmission was interrupted he sent his son running to get battery cells for his transistor radio. “From so many miles away you told me what was happening in my own neighbourhood. Can’t thank you enough.”

In a week’s time, the presenter will say: Aur iske saath he Sairbeen ka yeh Ikkeyavun [51] saala silsila ikhtetam ko pohncha. Khuda hafiz aur shab bakher

Dawn

KARACHI: What happens if you expose the white collar crimes of influential people? If you’re a journalist in rural Sindh, you might end up being charged with kidnapping for ransom or extortion under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

Over 30 FIRs have been registered against 50 journalists in different districts of the province, including Nawabshah, Naushero Feroze, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Sukkur and Thatta, since May 2019.

“I know how to write,” said Ajeeb Lakho, a former president of the Ghambat Press Club. “I just know how to highlight issues of public interest that the people want to know about, so that the authorities can take action.”

Sixteen cases, including ATA cases, have been lodged against Lakho at different police stations in Larkana, Shikarpur, Naushero Feroze and Khairpur since May 23. The FIRs include charges of kidnapping for ransom and extortion.

Meanwhile, four cases have been registered against Imdad Phulpoto, a journalist in Sukkur, since 2017. “I am a journalist, not a kidnapper or a terrorist,” Phulpoto told The Express Tribune. “False and fabricated cases have been lodged against me and other journalists. But nobody actually listens to us because the people behind these cases are more powerful than the media.”

Of the cases lodged against him, two were registered in 2017, one in 2018 and one in July this year. The last FIR falls under the ambit of the anti-terrorism courts.

“Influential people want us to report according to their wishes. They want us not to disclose the truth about them to the world,” maintained Sahil Jogi, another Sukkur-based journalist. “Cases of attacks, kidnapping for ransom and other heinous crimes are constantly being lodged against those journalists who speak and write the truth.”

He added that four cases had been registered against him too, including two FIRs for attacks and robbery. All cases were registered at the Pano Aqil police station. He believed that the charges were meant to stop journalists from reporting facts. “This is creating some fear among media workers, but I don’t think it will work,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Phulpoto said that media persons were usually considered as people with influence in society. “In Sindh though, our voices are not being heard,” he added.

According to Ghazi Jhandeer, a journalist in Karachi, most of the cases have been registered in Sukkur and Khairpur districts. “Most of these cases are false cases of kidnapping for ransom,” he claimed.

Discussing the case against journalist Peeral Piasi, from Thatta, Jhandeer said that he was charged for extortion because of a story he wrote about gutka sales. “Interestingly, the complainant owns a gutka factory,” he narrated, adding that such cases were meant to serve as a warning for other journalists, telling them not to highlight these issues.

Issue raised

On Wednesday, the issue was raised during a meeting of the Provincial Public Safety and Police Complaint Commission chaired by Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah.

Shah was informed by members of the commission that journalists in various districts were being booked in cases, including those pertaining to the ATA. When Shah asked Sindh IGP Dr Kaleem Imam about the matter, the provincial police chief claimed that he was not aware of the cases. He said he would share details about them in the next commission meeting in January.

Karamat Ali, a member of the commission, confirmed that the issue of FIRs against journalists was discussed during the meeting. He told The Express Tribune that it seemed that the cases were being registered due to the influence of powerful persons in the areas. “Most of the cases were registered in Sukkur division,” he revealed, expressing his hope that the CM would take action after the report.

“Journalists are facing many difficulties outside Karachi,” said Ali. “But their issues hardly get attention in the provincial capital.”

Journalists have staged demonstrations to protest the cases in various cities across Sindh, while some of those nominated in the FIRs also met politicians and senior police officials to discuss their plight.

The Express Tribune