(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is worried by government intimidation and harassment of the Jang publishing group. According to RSF’s information, on 14 December 1998, officials of the government’s domestic investigation agency raided the office of the daily “Jang” in Rawalpindi, an Islamabad neighbourhood. A “Jang” journalist told RSF that the officials had asked to check the […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is worried by government intimidation and harassment of the
Jang publishing group. According to RSF’s information, on 14 December 1998,
officials of the government’s domestic investigation agency raided the
office of the daily “Jang” in
Rawalpindi, an Islamabad neighbourhood. A “Jang” journalist told RSF that
the officials had asked to check the accounts but took away documents, notes
and journalistic materials. They also interrogated the staff about the
agenda. It seems that the authorities have been investigating the group’s
accounts for almost three months, just after the newspapers belonging to the
group published reports of corruption allegations against Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif. Maleeha Loodhi of “The News”, which is owned by the Jang
group, said that “[Prime Minister] Nawar Sahrif believes in a democracy
without dissent.” “For us, it is clearly a situation of attacks on freedom
of the press,” she added.
**Updates previous IFEX alert of 15 December 1998**
At the beginning of October, the English-language magazine “Newsline” also
accused Sharif’s government of launching an intimidation campaign against
it. At that time, the editor of “Newsline”, Rehana Hakim, said: “The
Pakistan Muslim League government has launched a campaign to victimise and
terrorise ‘Newsline’.” The magazine had published several articles alleging
corrupt practices among Sharif’s government (see IFEX alert of 2 October
1998).
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the Prime Minister:
corruption cases in accordance with their professional duty
that they have been victims of defamation, Pakistani law allows them to file
a legal complaint
investigations were decided by the government because critical articles were
published by the newspapers concerned
Appeals To
His Excellency Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
Office of the Prime Minister
Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Fax: +92 51 828 742/92 51 821 574
e-mail: primeminister@pak.gov.pk
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
