Day: July 2, 2024

On July 1, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari voiced serious concerns regarding the diminishing space for independent journalism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Bilawal reaffirmed the PPP’s commitment to press freedom and emphasized the need for journalists to operate in a safe environment. He urged the provincial Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to take immediate steps to protect journalists and ensure they can work without fear.

According to a press release from the Media Cell at Bilawal House, Bilawal pointed to an alarming increase in violent incidents targeting journalists in the province, describing the situation as intolerable. He accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and the ruling provincial party of being responsible for these brutalities, condemning the use of violence to suppress journalism and attributing these actions to fascist elements.

Bilawal asserted that the PPP believed in press freedom and would not allow anyone to stifle the press. He called upon relevant institutions and parliament to take decisive action to protect journalists and uphold press freedom in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On June 28, Civil rights activists, journalists, and digital rights experts in Pakistan called for repealing the Punjab Defamation Act and constitutional recognition of digital rights, citing concerns over receding civic spaces and democratic values in the country. They spoke at a national roundtable organized by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

HRCP council member Farhatullah Babar described the law as a step towards the “militarization” of the state and society and an overwriting of other laws, such as those governing the right to information. Journalist and researcher Adnan Rehmat said the law favoured political and state elites and legalized discrimination.

Law and policy expert Mohammad Aftab Alam criticized the recently passed Punjab Defamation Act 2024, highlighting radical changes in definitions and the imposition of the burden of proof on defendants.

Co-founder of Media Matters for Democracy (MMFD) Sadaf Khan expressed concerns about the government’s reported plans to install a national firewall, stating it would broaden censorship and monitor internet traffic. MMFD founder Asad Baig highlighted the potential negative economic impact on freelance work and online trading.

The participants recommended the immediate repeal of the Defamation Act, constitutional recognition of digital rights, renewed discussions on amending the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, and the passage of a law criminalizing enforced disappearances.

HRCP co-chair Munizae Jahangir urged unity among journalists, lawyers, and activists to present their demands before parliament. HRCP Islamabad vice-chair Nasreen Azhar emphasized the need for activists to be more organized in countering online disinformation.

HRCP Secretary General Harris Khalique highlighted concerns about an anti-poor political agenda and the need for rights-based movements to unite and present a cohesive charter of demands before parliament.

The them acting governor of Punjab, Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, officially signed the contentious Defamation Bill 2024 into law on June 8. Passed by the Punjab Assembly on May 20, the law targets the spread of misleading and factually incorrect news reports across various media platforms. Under the law, fines could be imposed, and social media accounts could be blocked for those found spreading defamatory content.

In a statement, the Pakistan Press Foundation highlighted the lack of clarity, transparency, and consultation in the drafting and approval of the bill, pointing out the potential for misuse against journalists and media professionals.  PPF had called for meaningful consultations with relevant stakeholders before further amendments or legislation were passed.

 

Jamaat-e-Islami leader and former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan called for a judicial inquiry into the murder of senior journalist Khalil Jibran.

During a press interaction in Landi Kotal, on June 30, Khan stressed the state’s duty to ensure the safety of its citizens, emphasizing that the protection of journalists was paramount. He highlighted the Constitutional guarantees under Article 9, stating, “It is a failure of law enforcement agencies that the perpetrators remain at large.”

Jibran was brutally murdered on June 18 after being forcibly removed from his vehicle and shot 19 times near his home in the Mazreena area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province’s Khyber district. This tragic incident marked the fourth attack on Jibran, who had received multiple threats prior to his death

In response to the murder, local journalists had also rallied on June 21 at Bab-i-Khyber in Jamrud tehsil, demanding a prompt judicial investigation and the immediate arrest of the culprits. The Khyber Union of Journalists, Tribal Union of Journalists, and Peshawar Press Club also staged a protest in Peshawar on June 20, led by PPC President Arshad Aziz and KhUJ President Nasir Hussain, where journalists displayed banners and voiced their demands loudly.

Khan assured journalists and sit-in organizers of his party’s support and vowed to advocate for their protection. He also urged the Supreme Court to take suo moto notice of Jibran’s murder to ensure justice is served.

An investigation team headed by District Police Officer Saleem Abbas Kulachi was formed on June 21 to investigate the murder. The team includes notable officers from the Counter-Terrorism Department and local police, dedicated to solving this case and bringing Jibran’s killers to justice.

On June 26, Bahawalpur Press Club (BPC) signed a memorandum of understanding  (MOU) with Superior College to provide scholarships for the children of journalists, offering a 50% discount on tuition fees for FSc and BS programs.

The agreement, signed in a ceremony at the BPC premises, has been lauded by the journalists’ community as an encouraging step towards providing affordable higher education for their children.

As per the MoU, sons and daughters of BPC members will be eligible for scholarships and fee waivers when admitted to FSc and BS programs at Superior College.