On February 14, the Parliamentary Reporters Association Pakistan strongly protested after journalists were stopped from entering the Parliament House while covering an ongoing opposition sit-in. The association described the move as undemocratic and a direct attack on press freedom, stating that reporters were prevented from carrying out their constitutional and professional duty to inform the public. It said that covering such an important political process is the professional responsibility of journalists and that preventing them from doing so constitutes a blatant violation of the principles of press freedom.
According to the association, journalists had continued reporting on the sit-in until late at night. The following morning, its President, M.B. Soomro, senior journalist Akram Abid and other reporters returned to Parliament House to resume coverage. However, they were stopped at the main entrance by security personnel. The association alleged that journalists were pushed and denied entry to the premises.
During the incident, senior journalist Akram Abid was reportedly grabbed by the arms and placed inside a police van. M.B. Soomro intervened and maintained that if Akram Abid was to be arrested, he would also accompany him. Following this intervention, Akram Abid was released. The association described the episode as disturbing and unacceptable.
In a joint statement issued by President M.B. Soomro, Secretary Naveed Akbar and other office-bearers, the association condemned what it termed obstacles, inappropriate treatment and misconduct faced by journalists during coverage of the sit-in. It stated that preventing journalists from entering a national institution such as Parliament House amounts to denying them their constitutional and professional rights.
The association further said that Parliament should not be turned into a restricted zone where media access is blocked. It emphasised that journalists have a fundamental right to report on the activities of elected representatives, particularly during significant political developments such as a parliamentary sit-in. It warned that if reporters are stopped from performing their duties, citizens cannot receive timely and reliable information about proceedings inside Parliament, which affects transparency and the flow of accurate information to the public.
The Parliamentary Reporters Association Pakistan demanded the immediate removal of all restrictions on journalists’ entry into Parliament House and called for effective measures to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in future, reiterating its commitment to safeguarding journalists’ professional rights, press freedom and responsible reporting.
