KUJ challenges minister for debate on press freedom

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 9 July 2021

The Karachi Union of Journalists has confronted Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry regarding his stance on press freedom. The union highlights ongoing threats to journalists and dissatisfaction with government responses to media safety.

Summary

KARACHI—Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) has challenged Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry to debate press freedom in the country.

KUJ said that Chaudhry had been making statements against the facts about the media in his previous tenure and even after getting the ministry again. “Fawad Chaudhry is working on the government's agenda to silence all voices in the country that criticize government policies.”

According to KUJ, the response of the federal minister to the report of Reporters Without Borders is also not satisfactory. “The Federal Minister started counting the number of news channels and newspapers to prove freedom of the press in Pakistan,” the statement mentioned, adding that “even though all these channels and newspapers have been operational since the previous governments.”

KUJ emphasized that working journalists have never faced such conditions since the PTI came to power. Kidnappings of journalists from Karachi to Islamabad, attacks on them in broad daylight and violent incidents are still ongoing. “Unfortunately, culprits have not yet been arrested, although the Federal Minister promised on the floor of the National Assembly,” the KUJ regretted while mentioning attacks on Matiullah Jan, Absar Alam, Asad Toor and other journalists in its statement.

KEY POINTS:

• KUJ invites Fawad Chaudhry to debate press freedom issues.
• Journalists face unprecedented threats under current government.
• Chaudhry's claims about media freedom are disputed by KUJ.
• Numerous attacks on journalists remain unresolved.
• Federal Minister's response to media reports found inadequate.