Category: Freedom of Expression

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Taking notice of alleged police highhandedness, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi removed CIA DIG Malik Liaquat from his post and ordered the registration of a case against those involved in vandalizing in Doctors’ Hospital and torturing journalists.

The S&GAD on Monday issued a notification of Malik Liaqat’s removal. He has been made OSD.

CIA police raided Doctors’ Hospital and subjected journalists, including ‘Dunya News’ reporters, to severe torture when they reached there on information that the police took duty doctors, paramedical staff and patients hostage. Malik Liaqat reportedly led the “police operation”.

Police officials in plain clothes assaulted and abused the hospital staff and their vandalism hindered service to patients.

Police tortured ‘Dunya News’ reporters and cameraman in the presence of Malik Liaquat, who went there to cover the hostage taking incident late night. Police snatched cameras, equipment and mobile phones from ‘Dunya News’ staffers.

They also seized DVR of the CCTV cameras and caused panic and chaos in the hospital and disrupted the treatment process.

Meanwhile, journalists, lawyers’ organisations and civil society condemned the police attack and urged the Punjab IGP to take action against the officials who tortured the journalists.

IG Dr Usman later reached the hospital and assured journalists that those involved in the torture of the media men would be taken to task.

Source: Dunya News

The post Police raid on the hospital: CM removes CIA DIG Malik Liaquat for torturing journalists first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

SARGODHA: Mianwali police broke into the house of Dawn correspondent, Khursheed Anwar Khan, on Thursday night for no reason and harassed the family.

About a dozen policemen cordoned off the house while women police searched the house without producing any warrants and harassed his wife.

The police, this correspondent was told, are not happy with the journalist for reporting the recent incidents of snatching nomination papers from the PTI aspirants from Mianwali district, as well as for assisting PTI district vice president of women wing Amara Niazi, who is his relative, in submitting her nomination papers.

While leaving Khan’s house, the police said they raided the house on a tip-off that the journalist was hiding Amara Niazi and other PTI activists. It is also learnt that Khurshid Anwar Khan has extensively reported on the treatment meted out to former MNA Amjad Khan Niazi, currently in jail in the May 9 cases. Niazi was not allowed to sign his nomination papers despite the orders of the special judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court, Sargodha.

Khurshid Anwar Khan has an unblemished repute as a journalist and lawyer and there is no case against him.

Earlier, the Dawn correspondent had reported the incidents of snatching of nomination papers of the two PTI ticket aspirants from the returning office on the district court premises on Wednesday. Though both the aspirants blamed the policemen in civvies, the police had rejected their charges and showed ignorance about the alleged incidents.

The aspirants included Ziaullah Khan Niazi advocate, a retired judicial officer, and Rafiullah Khan, the brother of former PTI MPA Ameenullah Khan and Gen Sanaullah Khan Shaheed.

Meanwhile, the District Bar Association boycotted local courts on Thursday to show their resentment against objectionable behaviour of local police with bar members during collection of nomination papers at the RO office on Wednesday. The lawyers in the chanted slogans against the government and local police. In another incident, the police raided the lawyer’s house who got nomination papers for PTI ex-MNA Amjad Ali Khan. The DBA demanded replacement of the returning officer.

Source: Dawn

The post House of Dawn correspondent raided for reports on PTI leaders first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

SARGODHA: Mianwali police broke into the house of Dawn correspondent, Khursheed Anwar Khan, on Thursday night for no reason and harassed the family.

About a dozen policemen cordoned off the house while women police searched the house without producing any warrants and harassed his wife.

The police, this correspondent was told, are not happy with the journalist for reporting the recent incidents of snatching nomination papers from the PTI aspirants from Mianwali district, as well as for assisting PTI district vice president of women wing Amara Niazi, who is his relative, in submitting her nomination papers.

While leaving Khan’s house, the police said they raided the house on a tip-off that the journalist was hiding Amara Niazi and other PTI activists. It is also learnt that Khurshid Anwar Khan has extensively reported on the treatment meted out to former MNA Amjad Khan Niazi, currently in jail in the May 9 cases. Niazi was not allowed to sign his nomination papers despite the orders of the special judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court, Sargodha.

Khurshid Anwar Khan has an unblemished repute as a journalist and lawyer and there is no case against him.

Earlier, the Dawn correspondent had reported the incidents of snatching of nomination papers of the two PTI ticket aspirants from the returning office on the district court premises on Wednesday. Though both the aspirants blamed the policemen in civvies, the police had rejected their charges and showed ignorance about the alleged incidents.

The aspirants included Ziaullah Khan Niazi advocate, a retired judicial officer, and Rafiullah Khan, the brother of former PTI MPA Ameenullah Khan and Gen Sanaullah Khan Shaheed.

Meanwhile, the District Bar Association boycotted local courts on Thursday to show their resentment against objectionable behaviour of local police with bar members during collection of nomination papers at the RO office on Wednesday. The lawyers in the chanted slogans against the government and local police. In another incident, the police raided the lawyer’s house who got nomination papers for PTI ex-MNA Amjad Ali Khan. The DBA demanded replacement of the returning officer.

Source: Dawn

The post House of Dawn correspondent raided for reports on PTI leaders first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

ISLAMABAD – All Pakistan Newspapers Society strongly denounced attack at residence of the Chief Editor of Daily Ausaf and Chairman, ABN Group, Raja Mehtab Khan, calling it an attack on the freedom of press.

APNS Secretary General Sarmad Ali said a contingent of law enforcers barged into the residence of Raja Mehtab Khan, roughed up the guards, and smashed the central gate of the residence.

Cops harassed and abused residents at Mehtab Khan’s residence without sharing any valid reason.

Pakistani newspaper organization considers the attack as an attempt to harass and threaten the media at the eve of the general elections, which are slated to be held in February.

APNS also lamented no action from police high-ups, despite an application submitted by the media group to SSP Islamabad.

The newspaper society officials urged the capital administration and Inspector General Police to immediately investigate the matter and take action against the Police party and ensure that no such acts would be repeated against other media outlets.

Source: Pakistan Observer

The post APNS condemns attack at residence of Daily Ausaf’s Chief Editor Raja Mehtab Khan first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

ISLAMABAD – All Pakistan Newspapers Society strongly denounced attack at residence of the Chief Editor of Daily Ausaf and Chairman, ABN Group, Raja Mehtab Khan, calling it an attack on the freedom of press.

APNS Secretary General Sarmad Ali said a contingent of law enforcers barged into the residence of Raja Mehtab Khan, roughed up the guards, and smashed the central gate of the residence.

Cops harassed and abused residents at Mehtab Khan’s residence without sharing any valid reason.

Pakistani newspaper organization considers the attack as an attempt to harass and threaten the media at the eve of the general elections, which are slated to be held in February.

APNS also lamented no action from police high-ups, despite an application submitted by the media group to SSP Islamabad.

The newspaper society officials urged the capital administration and Inspector General Police to immediately investigate the matter and take action against the Police party and ensure that no such acts would be repeated against other media outlets.

Source: Pakistan Observer

The post APNS condemns attack at residence of Daily Ausaf’s Chief Editor Raja Mehtab Khan first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

KARACHI: Media organisations on Thursday expressed grave concern over the curbs on media and said the journalist fraternity would make every possible struggle for freedom of expression and people’s right to information.

In a joint statement, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors Association said it was very worrying that people were being deprived of the right to information by taking away the freedom of media. They said it was surprising that the coverage of important cases, including that of cipher, had been banned.

The statement said the ban imposed on media coverage of important cases was nothing but depriving the people of their right to information. It added that newspapers and channels were facing challenges such as pressure from state institutions, illegal and unannounced censorship, emphasis on promotion of desired content, restriction on judicial and political coverage and pressure on journalists and channels.

The statement said the judiciary was the only door of relief in this tense environment, but if this door was closed, the situation would worsen.

The media practitioners’ representative organisations said an atmosphere of terror was being created for the media persons through pressure from state institutions and the regulator Pemra, adding that they faced illegal and unannounced harassment and restrictions on a daily basis.

They said the journalist fraternity would not accept any curbs on media in any way, adding that it was the right of the media to know what is going on and to take all possible steps to ensure the freedom of expression. They expressed the determination that they would do every possible struggle for the freedom of expression in the country, for which all legal means would be taken.

Source: Dawn

The post Media bodies slam curbs on journalists first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

KARACHI: Media organisations on Thursday expressed grave concern over the curbs on media and said the journalist fraternity would make every possible struggle for freedom of expression and people’s right to information.

In a joint statement, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors Association said it was very worrying that people were being deprived of the right to information by taking away the freedom of media. They said it was surprising that the coverage of important cases, including that of cipher, had been banned.

The statement said the ban imposed on media coverage of important cases was nothing but depriving the people of their right to information. It added that newspapers and channels were facing challenges such as pressure from state institutions, illegal and unannounced censorship, emphasis on promotion of desired content, restriction on judicial and political coverage and pressure on journalists and channels.

The statement said the judiciary was the only door of relief in this tense environment, but if this door was closed, the situation would worsen.

The media practitioners’ representative organisations said an atmosphere of terror was being created for the media persons through pressure from state institutions and the regulator Pemra, adding that they faced illegal and unannounced harassment and restrictions on a daily basis.

They said the journalist fraternity would not accept any curbs on media in any way, adding that it was the right of the media to know what is going on and to take all possible steps to ensure the freedom of expression. They expressed the determination that they would do every possible struggle for the freedom of expression in the country, for which all legal means would be taken.

Source: Dawn

The post Media bodies slam curbs on journalists first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).