Articles by Pakistan Press Foundation
Journalist shot dead
(PPF/IFEX) – Shahid Soomro, a correspondent in the town of Kandhkot for the Hyderabad-based Sindhi-language daily “Kawish”, was shot dead in front of his house on 20 October 2002. Soomro, aged 26, was allegedly killed in revenge for his reporting during the recently concluded election campaign. He was shot in the abdomen at around midnight […]
High Court sets aside journalists’ conviction in blasphemy case
(PPF/IFEX) – A division bench of the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, has set aside the Anti-Terrorism Court’s conviction of journalists Zahoor Ansari and Ayub Khoso in a blasphemy case. Ansari and Khoso are editor-in-chief and a columnist, respectively, of the Sindhi daily newspaper “Alakh”. According to press reports, the High Court sent the case […]
Government lifts ban on newspapers
(PPF/IFEX) – On 1 August 2002, the government of Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh lifted the suspension of the dailies “Morning Special” and “Evening Special”, in Karachi. The two publications were suspended on 17 July on charges of publishing obscene material. The government also directed the police to unseal the offices of the publications.
Editor abducted by intelligence agency officers and later released
(PPF/IFEX) – Muzaffar Ejaz, editor of the Karachi-based Urdu-language daily “Jasarat”, was picked up by intelligence agency officers as he left his office on 25 July 2002, at approximately 11:00 p.m. (local time). He was interrogated and released at 4:00 a.m. the following morning. According to press reports, the editorâs abduction was the culmination of […]
Prosecution, defence file appeals in Pearl case
(PPF/IFEX) – The following is a PPF news alert: Karachi, July 19: Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, sentenced to death for the kidnapping and murder of the Wall Street Journal correspondent Daniel Pearl, today filed an appeal in the Sindh High Court challenging his conviction on July 16. The appeal was filed on his behalf by […]
Two newspapers forced to close for one month, editors arrested
(PPF/IFEX) – On 17 July 2002, the government of Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh sealed the offices of two newspapers, “Evening Special” and “Morning Special”, and arrested their respective editors. The police raided the offices of both newspapers on the orders of the provincial Home Department and sealed them for a one-month period. The police […]
Principal accused in kidnapping and murder of “Wall Street Journal” reporter Daniel Pearl receives death sentence, three co-accused receive 25-year sentences
(PPF/IFEX) – Sheikh Omar Saeed, the principal accused in the kidnapping and murder of “Wall Street Journal” reporter Daniel Pearl, was sentenced to death on 15 July 2002 in a Hyderabad court. The sentence was announced by the Anti-Terrorism Court in the city of Hyderabad. The court also handed down 25-year prison sentences to the […]
Political party activists attack newspaper office
(PPF/IFEX) – On 26 June 2002, activists from a political party attacked the bureau of a weekly newspaper in Gilgit over the publication’s refusal to print a statement from their district president. According to press reports, at around 12:30 p.m. (local time), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) activists barged into the offices of the weekly “Naqqara” […]