The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), along with its Pakistan affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), has urged authorities in Pakistan to withdraw all cases against senior journalist Imran Riaz Khan who is also the government’s most vocal critic.
Taking to Twitter, IFJ released an official statement, urging the authorities to stop harassing journalists by registering cases against them. IFJ also asserted that such tactics to “gag” journalists are unacceptable in a democratic country.
Read more: Watch Moeed Pirzada analysis on arrest of anchor Imran Riaz
“Police arrested journalist Imran Riaz Khan on July 5 accusing him of publishing material critical of state institutions. We and the Official PFUJ call on the authorities to drop the cases against him. We stand with Imran Riaz,” IFJ tweeted.
“Registration of cases against journalists is an attempt to gag them. This is an action which cannot be permitted in any democratic country and the authorities must cease the use of government mechanisms to harass journalists,” it further added.
Registration of cases against journalists is an attempt to gag them. This is an action which cannot be permitted in any democratic country and the authorities must cease the use of government mechanisms to harass journalists #PressFreedom #ImranRiazKhan https://t.co/vRfgXohQYv
— IFJ (@IFJGlobal) July 6, 2022
Int’l community raises concern
Late Tuesday, journalist Imran Riaz Khan was arrested near the outskirts of Islamabad in connection with a “treason” case registered against him in Attock. Interestingly, the Punjab police arrested Imran Khan disregarding the fact that a court has already granted him a pre-arrest bail.
Pertinent to mention, Imran Riaz Khan has been extremely critical of the incumbent government. In many of his vlogs, he has been “exposing” the government and lashing out at the state institutions as well. However, since then, Imran Riaz Khan has been implicated in a slew of cases that he says were motivated by his refusal to “stop speaking the truth”.
The journalistic community, along with the public, has expressed anger at the arrest as it is being considered suppression of free speech. PTI, for which Imran Riaz Khan voices strong support, even announced a nationwide protest against his arrest.
Read more: PTI announces country-wide protest against Imran Khan’s arrest
Furthermore, the arrest has also sparked international concern. Amnesty International – a UK-based non-governmental organization focusing on human rights – also condemned the arrest. Its South Asian chapter released a statement on Twitter.
“Amnesty International is alarmed by news of journalist Imran Riaz Khan’s arrest and urges authorities to stop punishing dissenting voices, as has been a worrying trend in Pakistan for many years,” Amnesty International South Asia tweeted.
“In the past few weeks, journalists have been disappeared, faced politically motivated charges, and even violently attacked for simply doing their job. Journalism is not a crime, and must be stopped being treated as such,” it further added.
In the past few weeks, journalists have been disappeared, faced politically motivated charges and even violently attacked for simply doing their job. Journalism is not a crime, and must be stopped being treated as such.
— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) July 6, 2022