

Protesting journalists and media workers attacked by police
(PPF/IFEX) – A number of journalists were injured on 15 September 1997 when police charged a procession of journalists and media workers protesting against incidents of attacks on newspaper offices and against the harassment of journalists in the interior of the Sindh province. The protest was in response to a growing number of attacks on […]

Photographers assaulted by hospital staff
(PPF/IFEX) – Nine photographers for national daily newspapers were beaten up by the hospital staff of Rawalpindi General Hospital on 11 September 1997. According to press reports, the photographers were attempting to take photographs of a slain worker of the religious party Tehrik Nifaz-i-Fiqh-i-Jaffaria, when their cameras were snatched by the Chief Medical Officer and […]

Users of electronic services face restrictions
Digicom, the largest provider of electronic services in Pakistan, has asked its clients to sign agreements that impose a number of restrictions of the use of the Internet. According to Digicom, these restrictions are part of the licence terms that were imposed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the licensing authority for electronic services. Under […]

Reporters and photographers beaten by police
Karachi police attacked several reporters and photographers, beat them severely, and snatched and smashed their cameras on 20 September 1996. The journalists were covering the events that unfolded on the night of 20 September, when Murtaza Bhutto, brother of Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and head of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP-Shaheed Bhutto), a breakaway […]

Police pressure journalists; tax threatens autonomy of newspapers
On 5 July 1996, Dadu-based journalists and correspondents of national newspapers were warned against reporting on alleged government-initiated harassment of veteran opposition politician GM Syed, his family and his supporters. District police warned the journalists that “false criminal cases” would be brought against them and that they would face “grave consequences” if they continued with […]

“Nawai Banker” editor Zafar Iqbal killed; several journalists assaulted during demonstration; offices of daily “Mashriq” ransacked
On 27 April 1996, Zafar Iqbal, the executive editor of the Urdu- language weekly “Nawai Banker”, was killed by two men as he was driving away from the newspaper’s office. The men, armed with Kalashnikov rifles, opened fire on Iqbal, hitting him twice in the neck. He died instantly. On 28 April, at least four […]

Police assault two photographers covering religious procession
On 27 May 1996, two photographers were assaulted by police officers as they were covering a religious procession commemorating the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of the prophet Mohammed. Shoaib Ahmed of Urdu-language daily “Jang” and Saeed Qureshi of the Urdu-language daily “Awam” were covering the procession when the officers asked them to […]

Journalist Zafaryab Ahmad released on temporary medical bail
Sources: Bonded Labour Liberation Front of Pakistan; Amnesty International; others **Updates IFEX alerts dated 4 July and 9 June 1995** Journalist Zafaryab Ahmad (also reported as Zaffaryab Ahmed) has been released on medical bail, but may be required to return to prison within the next few weeks despite his ill-health. Ahmad was freed at the […]

Police raid homes of editors
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 […]

Journalists protest banning of papers
**Further to IFEX CH alert dated 30 June 1995** On 29 June 1995, about 500 journalists staged a rally in Karachi to protest the banning of six newspapers. Reporters wearing black armbands gathered at the Karachi Press Club with placards reading: “Ban on journalism — Unacceptable”. “I vehemently condemn the banning of the newspapers and […]

Six newspapers banned by government
In an unprecedented attack on freedom of the press on 29 June 1995, the government of Pakistan banned six mass circulation Urdu language daily newspapers of Karachi for a period of 60 days. Five of the banned newspapers, “Public”, “Qaumi Akhbar”, “Evening Special”, “Aghaz” and “Awam” are evening papers, and one, “Public”, publishes morning and […]

Zahid Qureshi, editor and publisher of the daily “Parcham,” and printer Mohammed Ali arrested
On 1st June 1995, the chief editor and publisher of the daily “Parcham”, Zahid Qureshi, was arrested by the Karachi police. The printer of the newspaper, Mohammed Ali, was also arrested. Both of them are still detained. The newspaper had reportedly published a “hit list” based on a fax sent to the staff by an […]

Journalist Zafaryab Ahmed detained
Zafaryab Ahmed, a journalist known for his reporting about the social problems of bonded labour in Pakistan, was arrested and detained on 5 June 1995. It is apparently as a direct result of his work on this important social issue that he has been accused of acting in a way that is “detrimental” to the […]

Outspoken businessperson threatened for denouncing extortion
Farooq Sumar, a prominent Karachi businessman, has suffered threats against himself and his family because of his courageous and outspoken denunciation of criminal extortion in Karachi. Widespread suspicions that recognized political parties tolerate and profit from these iniquitous practices represent a grave threat to the democratic foundations of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recommended Action […]

“Khabrain” journalist Aslam Gauthar stabbed
On 29 May 1995, Aslam Gauthar, a staffer of the Urdu-language daily “Khabrain”, was stabbed in Multan, Punjab province by five unidentified assailants armed with daggers and guns. The journalist arrived at the local hospital in critical condition. In a written statement, Gauhar alleged that he had received threatening telephone calls after writing a report […]

Probe into media criticism of superior courts
Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), Karachi According to a press release issued by the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Chief Justice nominated in March 1995 two judges of the Supreme Court to conduct a preliminary enquiry to consider the “expediency and the propriety of taking action” in light of statements and articles […]