Pakistan Press Foundation

(PPF/IFEX) – On 16 August 1998, twelve activists with the youth wing of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) attacked the editor-in-chief of a local weekly inside the Chakwal (city in Punjab province) Press Club for publishing an alleged anti-PML story. Khawaja Danial Salim was saved by other media workers present in the press club. […]

According to press reports, Ansar Naqvi of “The News” and M. H. Khan of the daily “Dawn” were returning from the Phulleli Police station after obtaining information regarding a case involving the death of four persons from poisonous liquor, when they were signalled to stop. The police constable checked their identification cards and allowed them […]

(PPF/IFEX) – A bomb exploded at the Karachi offices of the daily “Dawn” on 9 July 1998. The device, planted in a lavatory on the first floor of the building, went off at 1.05 p.m. No one was injured in the explosion. The bomb shook the entire building, causing extensive damage to the bathroom and […]

(PPF/IFEX) – On 21 June 1998, M. Ismail Jatoi, a journalist working in Shikarpur, Sindh province, was beaten by police for taking photographs of a police officer while he was allegedly taking a bribe from a man who had crushed a boy to death under his pick-up truck. The man had run over the boy […]

(PPF/IFEX) – According to information released by PPF on 1 June 1998, restrictions have not yet been placed on political activities or on the press in Pakistan. Mushahid Hussain, Minister for Information and Media Development, offered assurances that the government does not intend to place any restrictions on political rights, including freedom of expression. This […]

(PPF/IFEX) – The President of Pakistan, Mohammad Rafiq Tarar, declared a state of emergency in the country on 28 May 1998, effective immediately. According to the government, the state of emergency was proclaimed in view of a threat of external aggression. The proclamation of emergency was issued following Pakistan’s nuclear tests. The enforcement of emergency […]

(PPF/IFEX) – On 19 March 1998, “Public of Karachi”, a local Urdu language daily, was banned. The ban was imposed by an order issued by the local magistrate (SDM)of the area. The Station House Officer (the police chief of the area) along with a police party served the notice to the management. Following the order […]

(PPF/IFEX) – On 27 January 1998, charges of publishing objectionable materials laid against the editors, joint editor and reporters of the daily newspaper “Pakistan” were withdrawn. The Punjab government, following directions from Shehbaz Sharif, the Punjab Chief Minister, also apologized for having handcuffed the journalists who had been arrested on 19 January in Lahore for […]