JournalismPakistan.com | Published August 31, 2020
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ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) have strongly condemned the death threats to senior journalist Ahmad Noorani (pictured) for writing an investigative piece about the businesses of a retired army officer's relatives.
PBC Vice-Chairman Abid Saqi, HRCP Chairperson Dr. Mehdi Hasan and Secretary-General Harris Khalique, PFUJ President Shahzada Zulfikar, and Secretary-General Nasir Zaidi issued a statement.
They denounced this well-orchestrated campaign that declared the journalist anti-state and an enemy agent. The statement maintained that if anyone has any complaint against Noorani's story, they should approach the courts.
The bar, press, and civil society leadership urge upon the government to provide protection to Noorani and investigate elements behind the threats. They reminded the government that Noorani was brutally attacked a few years ago, and the culprits went scot-free.
Expressing full support to Noorani, the statement called upon all human rights organizations and civil society to take note of the situation where voices of dissent are being curbed through brute force and even abduction of journalists.
"Freedom of expression is under more threat under this government than it was during the martial law regimes. We stand for Freedom of expression and speech and would resist any attempt to impose any curbs on them," the statement concluded.
Photo: Twitter (@Ahmad_Noorani)
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