Pakistan army spokesperson accuses journalists of anti-state activity on social media
New York, June 5, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned comments from Major General Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson for Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies, who accused journalists of sharing anti-state remarks on social media.
Pakistani authorities disrupt distribution of Dawn newspaper
New York, May 22, 2018–Pakistani authorities should immediately halt any restrictions on the distribution of Dawn newspaper in Pakistan, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Distribution of the newspaper has been disrupted in many parts of the country in recent weeks, Dawn editor Zaffar Abbas told CPJ.
Pakistani journalist appeals 22-year sentence on terrorism, defamation charges
Washington D.C., May 10, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Pakistani authorities to withdraw all charges against journalist Shabbir Siham, who is appealing a sentence of 22 years in prison and a 500,000 rupee (US$4,300) fine by an anti-terrorism court in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region.
CPJ calls for full access to Geo TV to be restored
Washington, D.C., April, 3, 2018–CPJ today expressed concern over reports that the privately owned Pakistani television channel Geo TV is not accessible throughout parts of the country including Karachi, Lahore, and Multan, despite government assertions that authorities have taken no steps to block it.
Pakistan releases journalist on bail
New York, March 12, 2018 –The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomes the release on bail of Pakistani journalist Hafiz Husnain Raza and calls on Pakistani authorities to drop all remaining charges against him. Authorities released Raza from prison on March 10 after an Anti-Terrorism Court in Punjab province acquitted the journalist on eight charges…
Pakistan orders closure of US-funded Radio Mashaal office in Islamabad
New York, January 19, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Pakistani authorities to immediately reverse the order issued to close the Islamabad bureau of Radio Mashaal, the Pashto-language service of U.S. Congress-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
Record number of journalists jailed as Turkey, China, Egypt pay scant price for repression
For the second year in a row, the number of journalists imprisoned for their work hit a historical high, as the U.S. and other Western powers failed to pressure the world’s worst jailers–Turkey, China, and Egypt–into improving the bleak climate for press freedom. A CPJ special report by Elana Beiser
Pakistan arrests journalist whose rental car was rigged with bomb
New York, November 27, 2017– The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Pakistani security forces to immediately release journalist Khalil Afridi, who police are holding without charge in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Authorities detained the correspondent for the Khyber News TV channel on November 24 after an explosive device was found under a car…