IFJ condemns mounting attacks on journalists, media workers in Pakistan

The International Federation of Journalists IFJ on Monday condemned the mounting attacks and arrests on journalists and urged Pakistans government to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of all media workers as required by lawIn a statement the journalist body said that as police continue to crack down on violence and political protests in the aftermath of Pakistanrsquos May 9 unrest journalists are facing increased harassment and surveillance by authorities with at least one journalist in detentionIn the days following the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister and PakistanTehreefeInsaf PTI leader Imran Khan on May 9 journalists and media workers have suffered arrests violence and threats amid nationwide mass protests it said ldquoSeveral journalists working near initial clashes between PTI supporters and military personnel outside the Lahore Corps Commanders Office Jinnah House have faced detention as government tracking of all mobile phone numbers and calls near the residence a practice called geofencing placed many journalists covering the events under suspicionrdquoThe accused include Bol News journalist Shahid Aslam who is currently on bail in a January case for his alleged role in a leak of financial data Further reports indicate that television journalist Ali Tariq was arrested while reporting at the residence and that GNN deputy bureau chief Sarfaraz Ahmad Khan had been subject to multiple home raids by law enforcement in the following daysIn the wake of these geofencing incidents the Lahore Press Club LPC requested the names and contact information of the reporters drivers and other staff members assigned to cover the protests on May 9 which was then shared with the government LPC president Azam Chaudry also filed a petition before the Lahore High Court which has since ruled that police are to be barred from harassing reporters over their coverage of the unrestIn a separate incident Ghotki journalist Nasrullah Gadani was detained in Mirpur Mathelo on the order of the Sindh Home Department on May 22 In a May 16 detention order provincial authorities claimed that Gadani participated in civic disruptions allegedly inciting people to block roads and organise sitin demonstrations The journalistrsquos colleagues denied the allegations and said was targeted for his coverage of public safety issues with Sindh Human Rights Commission chair Justice Razvi stating the charges were lsquovague and insufficientrsquo The journalist was transferred to a central prison facility with his brother planning to appeal the decision at Sindhrsquos High Court on Friday May 26Also readPakistan govt rejects former PM Imran Khans offer for dialogue says talks held with politicians not terroristsSeveral more journalists including Aftab Iqbal Imran Riaz Khan and Orya Maqbool Jan were also arrested with Bol News TV President Sami Ibrahim detained on May 24 on ambiguous charges and Bol Media Group journalist Abid Abdullah reported missing since May 20Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists President GM Jamali and Secretary General Rana Muhammad Azeem have said the fundamental rights are being violated by arresting journalists when they arrive at Geofencings location The court should order the police to stop arresting journalists and to recover the arrested journalistsThe IFJ said ldquoThe safety security and fundamental rights of journalists and media workers must not be compromised in times of political upheaval and unrest Failure to protect journalists critically impairs the publics ability to obtain coverage of events in the public interest and restricts press freedom The IFJ urged the Pakistani government and authorities to safeguard all journalists and media workers and immediately release those currently detainedrdquo