JournalismPakistan.com | Published July 14, 2019
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD — Imtiyaz Khan Faran, President of Karachi Press Club, says the situation and freedom for journalists working in Karachi have deteriorated in the past six months.
In an interview with Freedom Network, he said a section of the community was in fear while the rest were angry, and that anger was growing.
He pointed out that since journalists faced threats, state institutions should stand behind them in this challenging hour — “not to support us but to protect us.”
“No journalist in Pakistan is working against the state, but to give one's point of view on a particular subject does not mean a journalist is anti-state.”
He said journalists should not be abducted because journalism is not a crime. “I think doing so brings a bad name to the country internationally.”
He called for setting up of a committee at the federal and provincial level with the representation of leading press clubs and unions of journalists, to protect journalists and freedom of the press. Such a committee should also have members of other relevant institutions on board like the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA).
“We can extend great help to such institutions, and I think NACTA should have links with the journalist community with the information ministry also playing its part along with of course the press clubs and UJs.”
Imtiaz said that freedom of expression was in danger in the country and the cyber crime cases against journalists are often fabricated with the complainants turning out to be culprits themselves. “It only angers the community.”
He said the federal and the provincial governments were not playing any role whatsoever for ensuring media freedom and protecting journalists.
Watch the interview here
March 24, 2025: Who will be responsible if my sons are harmed?" cries a mother in Islamabad High Court, pleading for justice after her sons' alleged abduction. The court summons the IG police over the alleged kidnapping. The family claims intelligence agencies are involved.
March 24, 2025: Explore the 10 critical reasons why Pakistan's legacy media continues to disappoint, from political bias and corporate influence to digital transition failures and unsustainable business models in Pakistani journalism.
March 22, 2025: The arrest of journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick under PECA violations has sparked concerns over press freedom in Pakistan. Digital rights activists warn of increasing state suppression.
March 21, 2025: Geo Group’s security guards allegedly led an assault on protesting journalists in Islamabad, dismantling their camp and threatening them. The hypocrisy of a media giant advocating press freedom while suppressing its workers is exposed.
March 21, 2025: CPJ demands Pakistani authorities reveal the whereabouts of journalist Asif Karim Khehtran and the abducted brothers of US-based journalist Ahmad Noorani, condemning the ongoing media crackdown.
March 20, 2025: The FIA has arrested journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick over his YouTube content, sparking concerns over press freedom. His family and media organizations demand transparency and his immediate release.
March 20, 2025: A Pakistani delegation, including journalists and filmmakers, secretly visited Israel, sparking controversy. The visit, facilitated by Israeli NGO Sharaka, aimed to promote cultural diplomacy. Read more on this developing story.
March 20, 2025: Amnesty International calls for an investigation into the enforced disappearance of journalist Ahmad Noorani’s brothers, condemning it as an attack on press freedom and human rights.
March 23, 2025 The severed pig’s head sent to Indonesia’s leading news outlet, Tempo, signals escalating media intimidation amid President Prabowo Subianto’s attacks on foreign-funded media.
March 19, 2025 Apply for the NYU Stern Climate Economics Journalism Fellowship to deepen your understanding of climate economics and its impact on global finance. Applications close on April 20, 2025.
March 16, 2025 The Trump administration has ordered furloughs at U.S.-funded broadcasters, including Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia, raising concerns about press freedom and government control over media funding.
March 15, 2025 Explore the dynamic relationship between athletes and sports journalists, examining the challenges, ethical dilemmas, and mutual benefits that shape the sports media landscape.
March 14, 2025 The National Press Foundation is offering a fully funded journalism training workshop in Singapore from June 22 to 25. The workshop will cover sustainable global trade, investment, politics, and more. Apply by April 6.