JournalismPakistan.com | Published May 29, 2019
Join our WhatsApp channelWASHINGTON, D.C - Pakistani authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Gohar Wazir, a reporter with private satellite TV station Khyber News, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Wednesday.
Wazir was arrested by security officials in Bannu, after reporting on demonstrations of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) - a movement promoting the rights of the Pashtun people - according to news reports. Yesterday, he interviewed Moshin Dawar, a prominent PTM leader who was elected to Pakistan's National Assembly last year.
Although PTM rallies have drawn huge crowds, news coverage has been scant, according to reports. Journalists who asked to remain anonymous due to security concerns told CPJ that the military has applied pressure not to report on the movement, which the military sees as a challenge to its authority.
"Gohar Wazir should not have to face arrest merely for doing the job of reporting the news, even reporting on controversial events such as protests by the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement," said Steven Butler, CPJ Asia program coordinator. "Restrictions on Pakistan's media only serve to undermine the strength of Pakistan's democracy."
Wazir was arrested along with 21 other people under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, according to Samaa TV and a tweet by local watchdog group Pakistan Media Watch. The MPO allows for preventive detention for up to six months, according to a report by Human Rights Watch. CPJ has been unable to determine where Wazir is being held.
The Pakhtun Journalists Association issued a statement on Facebook urging Wazir's release and calling the arrest an "attack on journalism."
On May 26, protesters clashed with the military in the region, leading to the deaths of at least three protesters, amidst conflicting accounts of the incident.
An email seeking comment from Pakistan's Ministry of Information was not immediately answered.
Although the killing of journalists has declined in Pakistan in recent years, CPJ has documented a rising trend of censorship owing to pressure from the military. – A CPJ News Alert/Photo: Reuters
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.