Articles by Pakistan Press Foundation
Taliban bomb music and video markets for “promoting obscenity”; over 50 shops destroyed
(PPF/IFEX) – A powerful explosion in the town of Mingora, in the Swat district of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan, destroyed over 50 shops in two adjacent music and video markets on 7 September 2007. The explosion in the Ali Plaza damaged 20 shops on the first floor and 20 on the […]
Explosions destroy three music stores in Buner; shop owners in Matta Tehsil receive threats of similar violence
(PPF/IFEX) – Three music shops were destroyed and several others were damaged on 25 August 2007 in explosions in Buner, in the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. Press reports quoting police officials said the improvised explosives that were used were locally made and were timed to go off around 11:00 pm (local time). […]
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 […]