Author: Sarah Brohi

Islamabad: The Punjab Information Commission (PIC) on Monday, May 15, 2023, heard the complaint against Sahiwal Club, with regards to journalist Saddia Mazhar’s request for information.

Secretary of Sahiwal Club, Mian Anjum Habib, submitted a written apology for using illegal and inappropriate language in response to the journalist’s request.

During the hearing, Habib admitted that the objectionable expression attributing the commission of an offense was illegal and based on ill advice, and was therefore withdrawn and duly regretted.

The PIC order stated that the “brazenness” of the Secretary and President/Commissioner Sahiwal was evident, as the patently illegal statement was forwarded to the Commission without any fear of accountability.

The Commission accepted the regret and disposed of the matter with a warning to remain careful in the future and to extend due respect for the fundamental right to information of citizens, as guaranteed by the Constitution.

The PIC further emphasized that RTI Law makes public functionaries responsive to citizens and subjects them to public accountability through “transparency”.

Sahiwal Club also shared the requested information with journalist Saddia Mazhar, which will be reported soon in exclusive stories.

It is important to note that the Club had previously stated that Mazhar’s act constituted an offense punishable under S.182 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and requested the Commission to file a complaint against her.

Saddia Mazhar have welcomed the PIC’s decision and stated that the Sahiwal Club’s apology and the PIC’s decision with a warning send a strong message to public officials that they must respect the fundamental rights of citizens and promote transparency and accountability in their dealings.

She added that the incident highlights the importance of the RTI Law in Pakistan and the role of journalists and citizens in holding public officials accountable. It is essential that citizens are aware of their right to information and the process for obtaining information from government institutions to promote transparency and accountability in the country.

Earlier, the Punjab Information Commission issued an order on the case of Abdullah Malik and Others vs Lahore Gymkhana Club, held that the Club is a public body under the RTI Act and is obligated to provide information to citizens. This order was upheld by the Lahore High Court.

Similarly, in the case of Nadeem Umer vs Islamabad Club, the Pakistan Information Commission also declared the Club as a public body under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017.

Source: The Reporters

The post Sahiwal Club Apologizes to Journalist Sadia Mazhar for Inappropriate Statement first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

Suspending the ‘detention notification’ of renowned anchorperson Aftab Iqbal, the chief justice of the Lahore High Court on Friday directed concerned authorities to effect his immediate release.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti ordered the Inspector General of Prisons to present journalist Imran Riaz Khan by 6:00 PM in court today.

The journalists, who are both staunch and vocal supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his policies, were arrested by the police on Thursday.

The government had swung into action and started a crackdown against the PTI supporters after the arrest of former premier Imran Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court on May 9.

Imran Riaz Khan was reportedly arrested at Sialkot Airport for allegedly inciting violence during clashes between security forces and PTI supporters, while anchor and television host Aftab Iqbal was detained from his Lahore farmhouse the same day.

The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) had condemned the arrest of the two anchorpersons, noting that attempts to curb the freedom of expression cannot be tolerated and demanding the immediate release of the journalists.

LHC Chief Justice Bhatti was presiding over two petitions challenging the unlawful detention of the two journalists. The petitions requested that the detainees be presented before the court following their recovery from the unlawful police custody.

As proceedings got underway, anchorperson Aftab Iqbal was presented before the court. Chief Justice Bhatti questioned the legal basis for detaining the journalist.

The law officer responded that the deputy commissioner, considering the current law and order situation, had ordered his custody under Section 3MPO. The officer argued that the deputy commissioner possessed the authority to detain someone under the mentioned section.

Chief Justice Bhatti enquired about Aftab Iqbal’s health, to which he responded affirmatively.

Nonetheless, suspending the detention notification, the Chief Justice ordered the release of Aftab Iqbal. He also sought replies from the relevant authorities by the next hearing date.

In response to another court query concerning Imran Riaz, Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab Dr Usman Anwar informed the court that the journalist had also been detained under Section 3MPO and had since been released from jail. The deputy commissioner had issued directions to release Imran Riaz Khan after he assured that he would not act against the Constitution.

Upon hearing this, Chief Justice Bhatti ordered the Inspector General of Prisons to present Imran Riaz Khan by 6:00 PM in court today.

Source: The Express Tribune

The post Anchorperson Aftab Iqbal released, Imran Riaz to be presented in court first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has strongly condemned the arrest of journalists Aftab Iqbal and Imran Riaz Khan and said that speech is everyone’s right which should not be banned under any circumstances.

CPNE President Kazim Khan has demanded the immediate release of the arrested journalists from the government and said that dissent cannot be forced by force. CPNE has mentioned these incidents several times in its Media Freedom Report and has reiterated its resolve that any action in the country that directly or indirectly targets the freedom of the press, we will always raise our voice against it. The President of CPNE further said that political battles should be fought in the fields of politics, for this an impartial profession like journalism should not be forced into it. He has further said that in the modern era of technology, ban on media is actually ban on freedom of expression. CPNE strongly condemns this. Mass media is a means of conveying the facts to the people. Depriving the people of their right to know is a violation of the constitution. The country is currently facing a severe political and economic situation and there is a series of announced and unannounced restrictions on journalism. Banning the press is against constitutional and democratic requirements. Cutting off the communication system in all major cities of the country, banning free and impartial reporting is a negation of the freedom of expression given in the constitution.

He said that CPNE also strongly condemns the destruction and burning of state properties by the angry protesters during the ongoing protests in the country. The present government and state institutions should try to solve all the situations with utmost patience and seriousness. He urged the government to immediately restore all means of news transmission, remove the ban on free reporting of journalists and pave the way for disseminating unbiased news and information to the public and adopt a democratic attitude. Save the country from the world stage.

Source: Daily Times

The post CPNE strongly condemns arrest of journalists first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has strongly condemned the arrest of journalists Aftab Iqbal and Imran Riaz Khan and said that speech is everyone’s right which should not be banned under any circumstances.

CPNE President Kazim Khan has demanded the immediate release of the arrested journalists from the government and said that dissent cannot be forced by force. CPNE has mentioned these incidents several times in its Media Freedom Report and has reiterated its resolve that any action in the country that directly or indirectly targets the freedom of the press, we will always raise our voice against it. The President of CPNE further said that political battles should be fought in the fields of politics, for this an impartial profession like journalism should not be forced into it. He has further said that in the modern era of technology, ban on media is actually ban on freedom of expression. CPNE strongly condemns this. Mass media is a means of conveying the facts to the people. Depriving the people of their right to know is a violation of the constitution. The country is currently facing a severe political and economic situation and there is a series of announced and unannounced restrictions on journalism. Banning the press is against constitutional and democratic requirements. Cutting off the communication system in all major cities of the country, banning free and impartial reporting is a negation of the freedom of expression given in the constitution.

He said that CPNE also strongly condemns the destruction and burning of state properties by the angry protesters during the ongoing protests in the country. The present government and state institutions should try to solve all the situations with utmost patience and seriousness. He urged the government to immediately restore all means of news transmission, remove the ban on free reporting of journalists and pave the way for disseminating unbiased news and information to the public and adopt a democratic attitude. Save the country from the world stage.

Source: Daily Times

The post CPNE strongly condemns arrest of journalists first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).