JournalismPakistan.com | Published November 16, 2017
Join our WhatsApp channel
NEW YORK - The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Pakistani
authorities to release local journalist Hafiz Husnain Raza and drop all charges against him.
Punjab Police arrested Raza on April 25, 2016. Authorities charged him with disturbing public peace and tranquility and instigating people to terrorism under Section 7 of Pakistan's Anti-Terror Act, the journalist's lawyer, Farooq Bajwa, told CPJ.
A Lahore court granted Raza bail on September 12, 2017, according to Bajwa. Before the journalist was released, Okara Police then filed additional charges against him, the lawyer said.
Authorities have been holding the journalist in Central Jail Sahiwal, Bajwa said.
A regional court will hold another bail hearing in the case, Bajwa said.
Raza was working as the Okara correspondent for Nawa-i-Waqt, one of Pakistan's leading Urdu newspapers which leans conservative, and frequently reported on regional land rights issues before his arrest, Amal Khan, features editor at The Nation English-language daily newspaper, who has been investigating the case, told CPJ.
There has been a land rights dispute in Okara for decades between the Anjuman Muzaareen, a tenants association in Punjab, and the military, according to Bajwa.
Khan told CPJ that the Okara land rights topic is "completely taboo" because it involves the military.
Raza was a vocal proponent of the rights of the Punjab tenants group in the press, and as a result, he made enemies in the army, she said.
"Hafiz Husnain Raza has been unjustly imprisoned for more than a year and a half in Pakistan, and we call on authorities to drop the charges against him," said Steven Butler, CPJ's Asia program coordinator. "Local authorities should not be able to imprison journalists just because they report on sensitive topics."
Bajwa told CPJ that the charges against Husnain are retaliation for his reporting in the Okara district. The Nation has also reported that the charges against Husnain are "fake."
The District Police Officer did not answer CPJ's repeated requests for comment.
Raza was asked to withdraw his support and reporting on the Anjuman Muzareen, but he refused to give an apology, she said. Due to the sensitivity and fear surrounding the topic, for the first three months of Raza's imprisonment, there were no news reports about his detention, she said.
Journalists in Punjab are vulnerable to many pressures - feudal, police, and military, Iqbal Khattak, director of local press freedom group Freedom Network Pakistan, said. Authorities want to make Husnain Raza's case symbolic for other journalists in the region, a lesson to others to not report on the topic, Khattak said. - Committee to Protect Journalists
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.