Tag: press freedom
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Turkish journalist jailed fifth time
Turkish investigative journalist Baris Pehlivan, who was ordered to return to prison by text message this month, was jailed on Tuesday for the fifth time in three years. The justice ministry informed him on August 2 via an SMS message that he had to surrender himself by August 15 to the prison in Silivi on…
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From 157 to 150: Pakistan’s press freedom ranking improves
In a positive development, Pakistan’s press freedom ranking has improved, with the country moving up seven spots to number 150 on the list. However, India’s position has slipped to 160 compared to last year’s stats when the country was placed at 150. China has been placed in the second last spot in the ranking list…
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US urges Kenya to investigate Arshad Sharif’s killing
On Tuesday, the United States of America urged Kenya to conduct an open investigation into the killing of Pakistani journalist and anchor person Arshad Sharif. “We’re deeply saddened by the death of Arshad Sharif,” said the US State Department spokesperson Ned Price. “We encourage a full investigation by the Government of Kenya into his death.…
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PM Khan strongly dislikes Pakistani media: Foreign Policy report
“Pakistan’s government is tightening its control of media with laws and oversight bodies that critics say enhance its power to censor and punish journalists. New laws potentially extend control to social media such as YouTube and Twitter, snuffing out investigative journalism and critical commentary,” says a report published in Foreign Policy (FP) magazine. The report says…
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‘The gun is already placed on their head’: Hamid Mir on being banned by Geo
In an interview with Stephen Sackur on BBC HARDtalk, senior journalist Hamid Mir talked about why he was banned on Geo News, press freedom, censorship under Prime Minister Imran Khan, attacks on journalists, and how he is worried for his own safety in Pakistan. Disappointment on being off-air Stephen Sackur questioned Hamid Mir as to…
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Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari condemn attack on journalist
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry and Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on Wednesday condemned the attack on journalist Asad Ali Toor, by unidentified men. As per the official account of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, SSP Islamabad has been directed to probe the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.…
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Politicians, journalists mark #WorldPressFreedomDay
World Press Freedom Day is observed every year on May 3 and this year’s theme is ‘Information as a Public Good’. To mark the day, politicians, journalists and other key figures have stepped forward to call for freedom of press and media. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres was also among those who marked this day.…
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Justice Isa holds referendum on country’s press freedom situation in court; no hands raised
Supreme Court’s (SC) Justice Qazi Faez Isa has expressed serious concerns over the press freedom situation in Pakistan, holding a referendum on freedom of press in his court. “Tell me… is media free in Pakistan?” Justice Isa asked the attorney general while hearing the case regarding local government elections with Justice Maqbool Baqir. The top court judge asked the reporters present in the…
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PTI issues list of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ journalists, deletes tweet after backlash
In another attack on press freedom, an official Twitter handle of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Lahore issued a list of ‘bad’ journalists on social media, calling them “anchors/mediamen building narratives for the corrupt”. “Let take these name loud and clear,” read the tweet with hashtag ‘HardTalkNotCapitalTalk’. A little context of the tweet: the said hashtag started…
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Tech companies will quit Pakistan if new social media rules enforced
The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) — an internet group that represents leading global Internet companies — has rejected the new social media rules announced by the Pakistan government, saying the tech giants would be forced to leave the country in case of such restrictions. The statement came a day after the government imposed new curbs…