The Awami National Party (ANP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa criticised a new law affecting journalists in the province, describing it as a violation of constitutional rights and press freedom. The party’s KP spokesperson, Arsalan Khan Nazim, strongly opposed the legislation on July 8, labelling it an attack on democratic values and the public’s right to information.

According to Nazim, the legislation allows for punitive measures such as imprisonment and fines for journalists who criticise the Speaker of the Assembly or the assembly procedures.

Nazim pointed out that existing legal frameworks already address issues like false reporting or misrepresentation of facts. He argued that introducing new criminal provisions specifically targeting journalists is unwarranted and detrimental to the principle of freedom of expression.

The spokesperson also raised concerns about the opacity surrounding the law’s approval process, suggesting that keeping the legislation shielded from public and media scrutiny indicates a lack of governmental transparency. He called for the law’s immediate withdrawal and encouraged a broad coalition of journalists, legal experts, civil society groups, and political entities to unite in opposition to the statute.