Pakistani TV anchor Hamid Mir gets death threats after speaking up for press freedom
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…
Exiled Afghan journalist Ahmad Hanayesh shot in Pakistan
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…
Pakistani journalist Jam Saghir Ahmed Lar shot dead in Punjab
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…
Pakistan court remands journalist Asad Ali Toor in cybercrime case
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…
Pakistani journalist Imran Riaz Khan held in terrorism investigation
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…
Pakistani journalist Asad Ali Toor arrested after responding to summons for questioning
New York, February 26, 2024—Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency arrested independent journalist Asad Ali Toor on Monday after he was ordered to appear for questioning in connection to an alleged “explicit and malicious” campaign against Supreme Court judges, according to news reports and the journalist’s lawyer, Imaan Mazari-Hazir, who spoke to CPJ. Toor operates Asad Toor…
CPJ joins call urging Pakistan to reinstate internet access after election day suspension
On Thursday, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Access Now, and the #KeepItOn coalition strongly condemned the Pakistani caretaker government’s suspension of mobile services across the country during its elections and called for full internet access to be reinstated immediately. Read the full joint statement here.
CPJ condemns phone and internet disruptions, barring of journalists during Pakistan election
New York, February 8, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the cell phone service suspension and widespread internet disruptions as Pakistan went to the polls on Thursday, with reports of journalists prevented from coverage in some areas. “Cutting off mobile communication services on an election day and preventing journalists from reporting from polling stations severely…
Pakistan restricts internet in Balochistan ahead of polls, blocks news website
New York, February 6, 2024—Pakistani authorities must allow journalists to work freely and safely in the run-up to elections on February 8, allow nationwide access to the internet, and unblock the investigative news website FactFocus, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Internet services will be temporarily restricted in “sensitive” polling booths across Pakistan’s southwestern…
Pakistani TV journalist Shoaib Burni injured in gun attack in Karachi
New York, January 19, 2024— Pakistan authorities must immediately investigate the attack against Suno News journalist Shoaib Burni, and hold the perpetrators accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On January 14, an unknown number of unidentified gunmen on a motorbike shot Burni, who is the TV station’s bureau chief in Karachi, in the…