(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called for the release of Sarwar Mujahid, of the conservative Urdu-language daily “Nawa-i-Waqt”, who has been held since 31 July 2004 by authorities in Okara district, Punjab province. Mujahid was arrested at his home by police, who did not have a warrant. He was beaten during the arrest. “The prolonged detention […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called for the release of Sarwar Mujahid, of the conservative Urdu-language daily “Nawa-i-Waqt”, who has been held since 31 July 2004 by authorities in Okara district, Punjab province.
Mujahid was arrested at his home by police, who did not have a warrant. He was beaten during the arrest.
“The prolonged detention of this journalist casts serious doubts on the ability of the Pakistani media to freely cover the activities of the military and the paramilitaries,” said RSF in a letter to the head of Punjab province, Pervez Elahi.
Mujahid is reportedly being held in Punjab’s Sahiwal prison. His family has not been allowed to visit him. His daughter, Aisha Sarwar, has condemned what she calls “state terrorism”. She expressed concern to RSF that her father, who suffers from diabetes, would not have access to the medical care he needs.
Mujahid, 42, is being held under the Maintenance of Public Order Act, which states that a person may be detained for three months if the government feels they represent “a threat to public order.”
The family has referred the case to the Lahore High Court, but it did not come up for review in August because of a judicial recess. The court has set 9 September as the date for the Punjab government to submit its comments on the case.
Mujahid is apparently being held in connection with articles he wrote on the conflict between Pakistani paramilitaries and agricultural labourers, who for years have been cultivating land belonging to the army and are refusing to leave their farms.
In July 2004, Human Rights Watch released a report condemning military repression, including torture, against agricultural labourers in the Okara district.
Mujahid was previously jailed for two months in 2003 for writing articles sympathetic to the peasant farmers. He was released on bail.
