Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi has written to PM Shehbaz Sharif about the alleged incidents of violence in opposition to journalists and human rights abuses below his govt. This comes in opposition to the backdrop of the police though-provoking prominent journalist Imran Riaz Khan, a vocal critic of the govt.and a supporter of ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In his strongly-worded, seven-level letter to PM Sharif, accessed by indiatoday.in, Dr Arif Alvi expressed his “fear and deep self-discipline on the rising vogue of harassment and torture in opposition to journalists and media folks in Pakistan”.
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“Most neatly-liked events of violence in opposition to journalists replicate a mindset of intolerance, which has detrimental repercussions both on the lengthy bustle of democracy as well to freedom of expression as assured by Article 19 in our constitution. Moreover growing pain in Pakistan, such actions also reach below world focal level and tarnish the image of our country,” he wrote.
The president also highlighted his country’s suppose on the Freedom of Press Index 2022. “Pakistan stands at 157th suppose in the Freedom of Press Index-2022. Journalists With out Borders (RSF), Human Rights Locate (HRW), Amnesty World (AI), and the World Commission of Jurists (ICJ) in their reports maintain attributed harassment, intimidation, and physical violence in opposition to journalists because the necessary causes for the defective suppose of Pakistan in the mentioned index,” he mentioned.
“Journalists in Pakistan are subjected to charges of sedition and terrorism to stifle dissent and criticism in opposition to the highly efficient formulation of the suppose. The actions being taken also undermine the efforts of the judiciary, when in one jurisdiction relief is accessible instances are filed in one more jurisdiction with mala fide blueprint to continue harassment. It seems that a reign of fright has been unleashed in opposition to the media folks who maintain honest opinions.”
Drawing the PM’s consideration to the responsibilities of a president as enshrined in the country’s constitution, Dr Alvi mentioned: “Through Article 41 of the Structure of Pakistan, the President could presumably presumably well additionally serene endeavor to present protection to the principal rights of freedom of speech and handsome trial for all voters. Pakistan being a democratic country, could presumably presumably well additionally serene no longer enable oppression and persecution of intelligentsia and journalists. Genuinely such actions ought to be idea to be abhorrent in a innovative society.”
“Law enforcement companies could presumably presumably well additionally be directed to be sure the protection of journalists and media folks. In this regard, politicians across the aisle could presumably presumably well additionally serene also play their role to set the journalists from the highhandedness of unknown and unscrupulous formulation. I would must learn of the remedial actions taken as per article 46 of our Con