Articles by Pakistan Press Foundation
Journalists barred entry into North Waziristan
(PPF/IFEX) – On 18 July 2007, police stopped two senior journalists and a cameraman from entering the North Waziristan Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan that border Afghanistan. Dr. Shahid Masood, the host of a locally popular TV show, and Rahimullah Yusufzai, the executive editor of “The News” in Peshawar, were […]
Religious extremists burn five music shops for “promoting obscenity, destroying religious values”
(PPF/IFEX) – Five music shops were burnt on 4 July 2007 in the bazaar of Miramshah, the main town in the restive Pakistan’s Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) that border Afghanistan. Press reports, quoting local residents, said unidentified men set the shops ablaze with petrol. The militants had earlier warned shop owners in the city […]
One cameraman shot dead, another critically wounded, other journalists injured during clashes in Islamabad
(PPF/IFEX) – One photojournalist was killed and several injured on 3 July 2007 while covering clashes between law enforcement agents and the students of Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad. The administration and students of Lal Masjid have been engaged in confrontations with the government since January. Javed Khan, cameraman of the […]
Video stores bombed following militant group’s threat to attack Internet cafes, newspapers covering women’s issues
(PPF/IFEX) – Two video shops were destroyed and 10 others were damaged when a bomb exploded in a compact disk market in the city of Charsadda, located in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on 26 June 2007. On 24 June, Mishal Khan, the president of the Muttahida Shopkeepers Association of Charsadda, received a threatening […]
Ten IFEX members urge President Musharraf to address deteriorating free expression situation
(PPF/IFEX) – The following is a PPF-led joint letter to Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf from IFEX members: General Pervez Musharraf President President’s Secretariat Islamabad Pakistan Fax: +92 51 922 1422/4768, +92 51 920 1893/1835 E-mail: ( See: http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/WTPresidentMessage.aspx ) Dear Mr. President, We, freedom of expression organizations, are deeply concerned by the many attempts […]
Militant cleric issues fatwa against fashion magazine staff, police file obscenity charges
(PPF/IFEX) – A leading militant mosque in Pakistan’s capital city of Islamabad issued a death decree against the staff of the monthly magazine “Octane” for publishing a fashion-shoot entitled “Adam and Eve” that showed two models in revealing costumes. The religious decree, or fatwa, was issued on 16 June 2007 by Maulana Abdul Aziz, head […]
Government to withdraw draconian amendments to electronic media laws
(PPF/IFEX) – Pakistan’s President General Pervez Musharraf has said the government would withdraw the controversial amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) law, enacted on 4 June 2007. Musharraf announced the decision after meeting with a delegation of the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) on 9 June. The PBA informed the president that they […]
Journalists not provided press cards, denied entry to Parliament building
(PPF/IFEX) – On 7 June 2007, the Speaker of the National Assembly barred journalists from Pakistan’s lower house of Parliament. According to press reports, journalists who had come to cover the budget session were refused entry to the Parliament building. This is viewed as a retaliatory measure by Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain against the 5 […]