Pakistan

New York, June 4, 2024— Pakistan authorities must immediately investigate the attacks against journalists Haider Mastoi, Khan Muhammad Pitafi, and Chaudhry Ikhlaq, hold those responsible to account, and take steps to end the intensifying wave of violence against journalists in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On May 29, an unknown number of…

New York, May 29, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply alarmed by the continued killings of journalists in Pakistan, including four in May so far, and calls on Pakistan authorities to immediately investigate these incidents, hold those responsible to account, and end the wave of violence against journalists in the country. The killings represent…

New York, May 23, 2024 — Pakistan authorities must immediately reveal the whereabouts of freelance Kashmiri journalist Syed Farhad Ali Shah, who was taken from his home at night by unidentified men over a week ago, and stop intimidating the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. At about 1 a.m. on May 15,…

Update: Following the publication of this alert, two Pakistani journalists told CPJ on the condition of anonymity, citing police sources, that Sial was targeted over a personal dispute. New York, May 17, 2024 — Pakistani authorities must immediately investigate the killing of journalist Ashfaq Ahmed Sial, ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice, and take…

New York, May 7, 2024 — Pakistani authorities must thoroughly investigate the killing of journalist Muhammad Siddique Mengal, who died in a bomb attack on World Press Freedom Day, and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. An unidentified motorcyclist placed a bomb on Mengal’s vehicle at a…

New York, May 2, 2024—Pakistani authorities must swiftly and impartially investigate death threats and online harassment targeting prominent television anchor Hamid Mir and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Mir, who hosts the flagship political show “Capital Talk” on Geo News and has survived at least two previous assassination attempts, told…

New York, April 4, 2024—Pakistani authorities must promptly investigate Wednesday’s shooting of exiled Afghan journalist Ahmad Hanayesh by two gunmen on a motorcycle and bring the assailants to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Hanayesh, also known by his birth name Abdul Aleem Saqib, was returning home on the evening of April 3…

Update: Following the publication of this alert, CPJ learned that Lar was targeted over a personal dispute based on statements from the local non-profit Rural Media Network Pakistan and a Pakistani journalist, who spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity, citing a police source. New York, March 22, 2024— Pakistani authorities must thoroughly investigate…

New York, March 15, 2024—Pakistan authorities must immediately and unconditionally release independent journalist Asad Ali Toor, return his devices, and cease harassing him in retaliation for his journalistic work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On March 8, a court in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, ordered Toor be sent to jail on a 14-day judicial…

New York, March 5, 2024—Pakistani authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Imran Riaz Khan, whose whereabouts are unknown, and stop harassing and detaining members of the press for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Tuesday. On March 1, the journalist—whose current affairs YouTube channel Imran Riaz Khan has some 4.6 million…