(PPF/IFEX) – On 26 August 2003, police arrested six journalists under the terrorism act during a visit of the president, General Pervez Musharraf, to Hyderabad. They were charged with disturbing the peace and committing violent acts. According to press reports, the journalists were covering a demonstration staged by the women’s branch of the Sindh Chandia […]
(PPF/IFEX) – On 26 August 2003, police arrested six journalists under the terrorism act during a visit of the president, General Pervez Musharraf, to Hyderabad. They were charged with disturbing the peace and committing violent acts.
According to press reports, the journalists were covering a demonstration staged by the women’s branch of the Sindh Chandia Welfare Association to coincide with the arrival of Musharraf at Mehran University in Jamshoro, where he addressed a meeting of vice-chancellors.
The arrested journalists are Nadeem Panhwar, Hakim Chandio, Sharif Abro, Irfan Burfat, Shahid Khushk and Haji Khan Sial.
Journalists throughout Sindh province protested the arrest of the six reporters. On 28 August, journalists covering Sindh Assembly proceedings staged a walkout and informed provincial ministers about the arrests.
The ministers gave assurances that the journalists would be released within five to eight hours and the cases registered against them withdrawn.
