JournalismPakistan.com | Published October 21, 2020
Join our WhatsApp channel
The Jammu and Kashmir administration shut down the Srinagar office of Kashmir Times, one of the leading English-language dailies in the Kashmir Valley, on October 19.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Indian affiliates Indian Journalists Union (IJU) have condemned the J&K administration’s move and urged to reverse the government’s decision.
The administration’s estates department officials sealed the Kashmir Times office located at Press Enclave area in Srinagar without serving any notice of cancellation or eviction. The move comes a day after it shut Kashmir News Service (KNS), a local news gathering agency.
According to the newspaper, the officials from the estates department came to the office without any notice, asked its staffers to leave the building, locking the Srinagar Times office.
Anuradha Bhasin, the executive editor of the newspaper, opines that the illegal shutdown is in retaliation for the critical stance the daily has taken about the government policies. Last week, she was forcibly evicted from her official residence in Jammu.
The J&K authorities stopped government advertising in the newspaper after Bhasin went to India’s Supreme Court in relation to the communications shutdown imposed on August 5, 2019, by the Indian government in Jammu and Kashmir.
The state department, however, claims that following the death of Ved Bhasin, founder of the Kashmir Times and the father of the Anuradha Bhasin, who died in 2015, the validity of the allotment expired. They argued that the quarter was allotted to Ved Bhasin in his individual capacity.
The IJU president Geetartha Pathak said: “The IJU believes that the J&K government’s action is merely retaliation by J &K administration for its Executive Editor Anurudra Bhasin filed case to Supreme Court of India against Internet shutdown. IJU strongly condemns the incident and urges authorities to allow free press to function independently.”
The IFJ said: “The J&K’s administration’s move is no more than an effort to silence critical voices regarding government policies, programs and activities. The J&K government should reverse the move, stop the harassment of Anuradha Bhasin and support an environment that enables a free and independent journalism to thrive.”—IFJ media release/Photo: Anuradha Bhasin/Twitter
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.