During the night of 16 August 1995, police raided the houses of Razia Bhatti (f), editor of the monthly “Newsline”, and of Zahid Qureshi, editor of the daily “Parcham”. According to news reports, police raided Bhatti’s house at 1:30 a.m. on 16 August, and demanded the address of reporter Mohammed Hanif, who had written an […]
During the night of 16 August 1995, police raided the houses of
Razia Bhatti (f), editor of the monthly “Newsline”, and of Zahid
Qureshi, editor of the daily “Parcham”.
According to news reports, police raided Bhatti’s house at 1:30
a.m. on 16 August, and demanded the address of reporter Mohammed
Hanif, who had written an article about Kamaluddin Azfar, the
newly appointed governor of Sindh province. They raided her house
twice more, later in the morning. Police also searched the
offices of “Newsline” twice on 17 August, but were unable to find
either Bhatti or Hanif. According to news reports, the government
objected to an article about Governor Azfar, which was published
in the magazine. Criminal charges were filed against the editor,
reporter and publisher of the magazine. According to PPF,
“Newsline” is a highly respected independent magazine and its
editor, Bhatti, is the recipient of the 1994 Courage in
Journalism Award awarded by the United States-based International
Women’s Media Foundation.
On 16 August, police also raided the home of Zahid Qureshi,
editor of the daily “Parcham”. The newspaper is considered to be
the official organ of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM), the main
opposition party in Sindh province. According to news reports,
police surrounded the house and broke into Qureshi’s bedroom.
When they discovered Qureshi was not in the house, they instead
took his brother, Wajid Qureshi. Police searched the premises and
seized papers and photographs of Qureshi with the chief of the
MQM.
Recommended Action
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harassed for expressing opinions critical of either government
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Fax: +92 51 821 574 or +92 51 825 835
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