Dawn criticizes treason cases against journalists as an intimidation strategy

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 16 June 2023

Daily Dawn's editorial highlights concerns over treason cases against journalists, labeling them as tools for intimidation rather than genuine prosecution. It argues that these cases often involve exaggerated or fabricated charges and underscores the negative impact on freedom of expression in Pakistan.

Summary

ISLAMABAD - Daily Dawn on Friday maintained that the treason cases against journalists and political commentators seem to be an effort to "intimidate rather than prosecute."

"The state has long favoured this tactic to harass journalists and politicians. In such cases, even a cursory look at the police report usually reveals that the charges are likely grossly exaggerated, if not outright fabricated," the paper said in an editorial titled 'Fear tactics'.

It argued that the complaints are never adequately investigated but are used as a hanging sword over the people they target.

It said that in each case, the complaint is sufficiently vague to be able to create significant difficulties for the people accused, but is very unlikely to stand under scrutiny.

However, the editorial feared that law-enforcement agencies might use these accusations as a pretext to harass these individuals' families to 'send a message'. "Unfortunately, complaints regarding this sort of 'collective punishment' have become all too common amidst the crackdown on the PTI and its sympathisers since May 9."

The state, the paper said, is hell bent to cut the PTI to size but "unfortunately, our state appears too wedded to its fear tactics to bother to think out of the box for once."