Pakistani journalists Jameel Farooqui and Ilyas Samoo arrested; Farooqui remains in detention
New York, August 23, 2022–Pakistan authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Jameel Farooqui, and cease harassing him and journalist Ilyas Samoo in retaliation for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On August 19, police in southeastern Sindh province’s Thatta district arrested Samoo, a reporter for the privately owned daily newspaper Awami…
Pakistani journalist Peer Muhammad Khan Kakar held for 1 week over corruption allegations
New York, July 14, 2022 – Pakistan authorities must immediately cease harassing journalist Peer Muhammad Khan Kakar, drop any investigations into his work, and allow him to report freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On July 7, police in the Loralai district of the southwest Balochistan province arrested Kakar, a correspondent…
Pakistani journalists Ayaz Amir and Ahmer Shaheen attacked in separate incidents in Lahore
New York, July 7, 2022 – Pakistan authorities must immediately investigate the attacks against journalists Ayaz Amir and Ahmer Shaheen, ensure their safety, and hold the perpetrators accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Unidentified men separately attacked Shaheen, chief editor of the news website iNEWS, on June 30 and beat Amir, a senior…
Pakistani journalist Imran Riaz Khan arrested
New York, July 7, 2022 – Pakistan authorities must immediately release journalist Imran Riaz Khan and ensure that members of the press can work freely and without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On the evening of Tuesday, July 5, police in the outskirts of Islamabad, the capital, arrested Khan, an…
Pakistan police open multiple criminal investigations into four journalists
New York, May 25, 2022– Pakistan authorities must immediately drop their investigations into journalists Sami Abraham, Arshad Sharif, Sabir Shakir, and Imran Riaz Khan, and refrain from arresting and targeting journalists in retaliation for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Since May 18, police across Pakistan have filed multiple first information reports…
Pakistan police assault, detain journalist Jahangir Hayat in Punjab province
New York, May 10, 2022 – Pakistan authorities must conduct a swift and impartial investigation into the police assault of journalist Jahangir Hayat, as well as the detention of Hayat and his family, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On May 1, police officers in the Icchra area…
Pakistan authorities open criminal inquiry into anchor Sami Abraham
New York, May 9, 2022 – Pakistan authorities must immediately drop their inquiry into journalist Sami Abraham and cease subjecting members of the press to legal harassment in retaliation for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On May 6, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency opened an inquiry into Abraham, an anchor with the…
Journalists assaulted, harassed amid political transition in Pakistan
On April 11, 2022, Pakistan’s parliament elected Shehbaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and younger brother of former three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, as the country’s new prime minister after ousting Imran Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in a no-confidence vote, according to news reports. Since that political transition, journalists…
Pakistani journalist Zahid Shareef Rana attacked in Punjab province
New York, March 30, 2022 – Pakistani authorities must conduct an immediate and impartial investigation into the attack on journalist Zahid Shareef Rana and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Sunday, March 27, a group of around 10 men assaulted Rana, a reporter for the privately owned newspaper…
Pakistani journalist Asad Ali Toor targeted in criminal investigation of protest
On March 3, 2022, police in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, opened an investigation into Asad Ali Toor for allegedly leading an unauthorized protest earlier that week, according to news reports and Toor, who spoke to CPJ in a phone interview. On March 4, the Islamabad High Court ordered police not to arrest anyone named in the…