(PPF/IFEX) – Najam Sethi, chief editor of “The Friday Times”, Lahore, was beaten and arrested in the early hours of 7 May 1999 by personnel of the police and intelligence agencies. They stormed his house and barged into his bedroom to arrest him. **Updates IFEX alert of 6 May 1999; for background on other journalists […]
(PPF/IFEX) – Najam Sethi, chief editor of “The Friday Times”, Lahore, was
beaten and arrested in the early hours of 7 May 1999 by personnel of the
police and intelligence agencies. They stormed his house and barged into his
bedroom to arrest him.
**Updates IFEX alert of 6 May 1999; for background on other journalists
being harassed in connection with the BBC “Correspondent” programme see IFEX
alerts of 6 May and 5 May 1999**
According to reports, Sethi’s wife, Jugnu Mohsin, was also beaten and locked
in a room and threatened of dire consequences if she tried to raise alarm.
The plainclothes officials used filthy language when she asked to see the
arrest warrants.
According to Mohsin, about fifteen armed men arrived in vehicles bearing
government registration plates at around 3:00 a.m. (local time) and started
beating the two security guards posted at the gate. They then entered the
house and banged at the bedroom door. As soon as Sethi opened the door they
started beating him. His wife tried to rescue him but was also manhandled.
Earlier in the week Sethi was harassed by law enforcement agencies since
being interviewed for the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC)
“Correspondent” programme. According to press reports, senior government
officials had cautioned him for his work with a BBC team, terming it an
attempt to destabilise the country and overthrow the government.
Recent reports on state-controlled television and the government controlled
Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) accused Sethi of unpatriotic behaviour,
because of a lecture he delivered in India which the authorities believe was
against Pakistan. These reports suggested that he be held accountable for
his actions.
Sethi, who had served as the adviser to the prime minister during the
interim government after the removal of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)
government in 1996, had received numerous threatening phone calls. Sethi had
earlier stated that he feared that his house or office would be attacked and
that he would be arrested.
The president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), I.H.
Rashid, and the chairman of the All Pakistan Newspaper Employees
Confederation (APNEC), Abdul Hameed Chappara, have condemned Sethi’s arrest
and the maltreatment of his wife. In a joint statement, they deplored the
violent incidents against the press and added that the manner in which Sethi
was arrested shows the fascist mind of the government.
An emergency protest meeting was called by the Lahore Press club for the
evening of 9 May to chalk out a future course of action.
