PFUJ concerned at FIA notices to Karachi-based journalists

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has shown serious concerns over issuance of notices to Karachi-based journalists, Ashfaqur Reham and Mashood Aslam, and termed it a cowered attack on the media and freedom of press.

PFUJ President Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi, in a statement, while taking acceptation to rising incidents of FIA notices to journalists, said now it was clear that the incumbent government was bent upon denying the freedom of speech and press and could not face criticism, which was a hallmark of transparency and accountability.

“It is a strange situation and needs serious attention of all stakeholders and political leadership of the country,” they said. Earlier, senior journalist and anchorperson Nadeem Malik was issued notice by the anti-terrorism wing of the FIA and now these two Karachi-based journalists were being harassed through notices by the FIA. “The current regime is misusing state authorities and institutions against the media for denying freedom of press and free speech and expression, which will be resisted at any cost,” they said. The PFUJ leadership alarmed the federal government particularly Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and the Sindh government of rising incidents of violence against journalists in Islamabad and Sindh province and demanded taking notice of the conduct of officials of the FIA, who were involved in illegal actions against journalists and violating the court orders, issued by the Islamabad High Court and the Sindh High Court.