CPJ urges new military ruler to respect press freedom in Pakistan

October 15, 1999

His Excellency Gen. Pervez Musharraf
Chief Executive, Islamic Republic of Pakistan
General Headquarters, Pakistani Army
Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Your Excellency:

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is dismayed by today’s emergency proclamation announcing that Pakistan’s constitution has been suspended. CPJ is concerned that in the absence of constitutional protections guaranteeing civil liberties, including freedom of speech and of the press, the right of journalists to report freely on the momentous political developments at hand may be sharply curtailed.

As an organization of journalists dedicated to the defense of press freedom around the world, CPJ urges Your Excellency to act quickly to reinstate the constitution and return the country to a civilian-led government that will abide by democratic norms. We also respectfully ask you to provide public assurances that, during this interim period, your administration will not use its formidable powers to control the press, as Pakistan’s previous military regimes have done.

We thank you for your attention to these important matters, and await your response.

Sincerely,

Ann K. Cooper
Executive Director


Join CPJ in Protesting Attacks on the Press in Pakistan

Send a letter to:

His Excellency Gen. Pervez Musharraf
Chief Executive, Islamic Republic of Pakistan
General Headquarters, Pakistani Army
Rawalpindi, Pakistan