(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is very concerned by the continuing infringements on press freedom in Pakistan. **New case and update to IFEX alerts of 25 May, 18 May, 12 May, 10 May, 6 May and 5 May 1999** According to RSF’s information, 4,000 copies of the London-based weekly “The Economist” were seized without explanation at Karachi’s […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is very concerned by the continuing infringements on press
freedom in Pakistan.
**New case and update to IFEX alerts of 25 May, 18 May, 12 May, 10 May, 6
May and 5 May 1999**
According to RSF’s information, 4,000 copies of the London-based weekly “The
Economist” were seized without explanation at Karachi’s airport. The lead
story of the Asia edition was headlined “The rot in Pakistan” and focused on
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government’s crackdown on press freedom. On 13
May 1999, the weekly “Friday Times” failed to hit the stands after copies
were seized by the authorities in Lahore.
RSF recalls that three Pakistani journalists are currently detained: Najam
Sethi, editor-in- chief of the “Friday Times”, was arrested on 8 May by the
Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) on charges of “anti-Pakistani activities”.
Hussain Haqqani, a columnist for the same newspaper and for the daily
“Jang”, was arrested on 4 May by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and
was reportedly mistreated during his detention. Sethi and Haqqani had
earlier helped a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) crew investigating
corruption among the prime minister’s family. Rehmat Shah Afridi,
editor-in-chief of the Peshawar-based “The Frontier Post”, was arrested on 2
April on drug charges. He has claimed his innocence. According to his
colleagues, his arrest was politically motivated.
Press investigations into government-level corruption have led the police to
harass and arrest several other journalists. M.A.K. Lodhi, investigations
bureau chief on the daily “The News”, was kidnapped on 2 May by plainclothes
police. He was released two days later. Lodhi had also helped the BBC crew.
The police accused him of “destabilising the country”. On 5 May, Ejaz
Haider, an editor with the same weekly, received an anonymous letter
advising him to drape the windows of his car with flak-jackets. The
journalist believes this intimidation is linked to his collaboration with
Sethi. The same day, the car of Imtiaz Alam, a journalist with “The News”,
was burned in front of his house by two or three men.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Pakistan
press freedom in the country
journalists and for them to be allowed to defend themselves in court at an
open and fair trial in due course
and threats against journalists by policemen
Appeals To
His Excellency Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
Office of the Prime Minister
Islamabad, Pakistan
Fax: +92 51 920 8890 / 92 51 920 5532
E-mail: primeminister@pak.gov.pk
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
