Tag: journalists

  • No ban on reporting, court assures journalists

    No ban on reporting, court assures journalists

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) has clarified that court reporting is not banned and assured journalists that they can do it but must avoid “irresponsible reporting.”

    The IHC, in a significant move, announced its stance during a hearing of a case challenging the petition of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra) ban on broadcasting court proceedings on news channels.

    IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said in a statement that media organizations are free to cover court proceedings but should avoid irresponsible reporting.

    Pemra submitted its reply during the hearing.

    Meanwhile, the court asked additional attorney general about the potential involvement of federal government in the matter. “This is Pemra’s matter, not the federal government’s,” he responded.

    Barrister Umer Ijaz Gilani, one of the petitioner’s counsel, stated that Pemra’s law does not restrict reporting on pending cases.

    After that, IHC adjourned the hearing till June 11.

  • ‘I will become prime minister or president if people vote for me’, says Fazlur Rehman

    Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman refused the allegations that he was offered the seat of the Prime Minister of the country. He stated that he will become PM only with the votes of people.

    “I will become the prime minister or president if the people vote for me,” Fazl said while speaking to journalists in Multan, adding that he was never presented with such an offer.

    He was surprised by the fact that someone will offer him the top position.

    The senior politician who was the head of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) formed against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, said that Pakistan will continuously move towards “slavery” if citizens don’t safeguard their votes.

    He also said that the current government is fragile, as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is part of the government but not  part of Shehbaz’s cabinet.

  • PTI to hold public rallies across country before by-elections

    PTI to hold public rallies across country before by-elections

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced on Wednesday that it will hold public rallies across the country, especially in Punjab, before the upcoming by-elections set to take place on April 21st.

    PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, along with party leader Sher Afzal Marwat, talked to journalists in front of Adiala jail about their meeting with party founder Imran Khan.

    The former Prime Minister asked Barrister Gohar Ali Khan to announce the party’s plan about public rallies in the country before by-polls. Imran Khan specifically assigned Sher Afzal Marwat to lead public rallies in Punjab.

    Furthermore, it was noted that Imran Khan instructed the party’s leadership to revamp the party’s activities nationwide, particularly in Punjab.

    Barrister Gohar, Omar Ayub, and Sher Afzal Marwat were given the responsibility to mobilize the party in Punjab and KP for upcoming by-elections. They were also tasked with organizing rallies before the elections. The party’s founder specifically assigned Sher Afzal Marwat to visit constituencies where the by-elections were happening.

  • ‘Hum khud hee apna YouTube channel chalaen gy’, says Qazi Faez Isa

    ‘Hum khud hee apna YouTube channel chalaen gy’, says Qazi Faez Isa

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa has said during today’s hearing in a case related to harassment of journalists that “Nowadays there is selective reporting and sometimes outright lies, so we will run our own YouTube channel.”

  • ‘I am strongly against stopping criticism, as freedom of the press is enshrined in the constitution,’ Chief Justice Faez Isa

    ‘I am strongly against stopping criticism, as freedom of the press is enshrined in the constitution,’ Chief Justice Faez Isa

    The Supreme Court (SC) has instructed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to promptly withdraw notices sent to journalists involved in a “malicious campaign” against the judiciary and institutions on social media as per Geo News.

    A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, heard the case pertaining to harassment of journalists by FIA.

    CJP ISA told Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan that verbal abuse was a different matter and that the FIA should not take action against journalists, especially on criticism.

    The AGP assured the Chief Justice of Pakistan that journalists would not face any action.

    The chief justice remarked that he is strongly against curtailing criticism, as freedom of the press is enshrined in the Constitution. “I don’t care if you make fun of me, but if you make fun of the judiciary, the country will suffer. You can criticise the Supreme Court, but the Constitution also has some limitations,” he said.

    “If you think that you are benefiting me or the Supreme Court by stopping criticism, then you are harming [the institution],” CJP Isa remarked.

    Qazi Faez Isa also said that media persons are allowed to criticise, but the matter of incitement is different. “We can never restrain a common man or a journalist from criticising.”

    Justice Musarrat Hilali stated that there is no issue with fair criticism, but the language used is wrong.

  • Journalist in Gaza killed by an Israeli sniper

    Journalist in Gaza killed by an Israeli sniper

    Bisan, a reporter from Gaza, announced the death of another journalist, Mohamed Abu Samra, who has been killed by an Israeli sniper.

    Only days before his death, his twin brother Ahamad was killed in an air strike that targeted their home.

    As of December 10, the Committee to Protect Journalist’s preliminary investigations documented that at least 63 journalists and media workers have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 7.

  • ‘Deadliest month’ for journalists: CPJ on Israeli attacks in Gaza

    ‘Deadliest month’ for journalists: CPJ on Israeli attacks in Gaza

    The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has reported the month following October 7 attacks has been the deadliest for journalists and media workers since CPJ began gathering data in 1992.

    CPJ’s “preliminary investigations” reveals that as of November 21, at least 50 journalists and media workers are among the 14,000 plus people killed since October 7.

    The deadliest day for journalists was October 7 itself as six journalists were killed; followed by November 18, the second-deadliest day when five were killed.

    CPJ highlights that up until November 21:

    • 50 journalists and media workers were confirmed dead: 45 Palestinian, four Israeli, and one Lebanese.
    • 11 journalists were reported injured.
    • Three journalists were reported missing.
    • 18 journalists were reported arrested.
    • Multiple assaults, threats, cyberattacks, censorship, and killings of family members has also been recorded.

    CPJ is also probing a number of unconfirmed reports of other journalists being killed, being missing, detained, hurt, or threatened, and of damage to media offices and journalists’ homes.

    “CPJ emphasizes that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties,” states Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator.

    “Journalists across the region are making great sacrifices to cover this heart-breaking conflict. Those in Gaza, in particular, have paid, and continue to pay, an unprecedented toll and face exponential threats. Many have lost colleagues, families, and media facilities, and have fled seeking safety when there is no safe haven or exit.”

  • 23 journalists killed in Israeli airstrikes since October 7

    23 journalists killed in Israeli airstrikes since October 7

    The Israel-Gaza escalation has resulted in the killings of more than 4,700 people in Gaza —mainly Palestinians — as increasingly heavy Israeli air raids continue following October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

    Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has been keeping a track of journalists who have been killed, injured, detained, or missing in the Israeli-declared war.

    Amidst Israeli airstrikes, disrupted communications, and extensive power outages, journalists are at risk at all times as they cover the situation in Gaza.

    As of yesterday, 23 journalists have reportedly been killed, including 19 Palestinians, three Israelis, and one Lebanese.

    The victims are identified as Khalil Abu Aathra, Sameeh Al-Nady, Mohammad Balousha, Issam Bhar, Abdulhadi Habib, Yousef Maher Dawas, Salam Mema, Husam Mubarak, Issam Abdallah, Ahmed Shehab, Mohamed Fayez Abu Matar, Saeed al-Taweel, Mohammed Sobh, Hisham Alnwajha, Assaad Shamlakh, Shai Regev, Ayelet Arnin, Yaniv Zohar, Mohammad Al-Salhi, Mohammad Jarghoun, and Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi.

    Additionally, eight journalists are reported injured and three are missing or detained.

    CPJ has also claimed to have been investigating a number of unconfirmed reports of other journalists being “killed, missing, detained, hurt or threatened, and of damage to media offices and journalists’ home.”

    According to CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator, Sherif Mansour, “CPJ emphasises that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties,

    “Journalists across the region are making great sacrifices to cover this heartbreaking conflict. All parties must take steps to ensure their safety.”

  • Five Palestinian accounts to follow for live updates from Gaza

    Five Palestinian accounts to follow for live updates from Gaza

    Here is a list of five Instagram accounts of Palestinians who are currently present in Gaza and have been actively updating on the Israel-Palestine escalation since October 7.

    1. Plestia Alaqad @byplestia

    2. Motaz Azaiza @motaz_azaiza

    3. Ali Jadallah @alijadallah66

    4. Hind Khoudary @hindkhoudary

    5. Lara @gazangirl

  • Pulitzer prize winning journalist Azmat Khan shadow-banned by Instagram on Gaza posts

    Shadowbanning by Instagram continues as Israel’s war on Gaza is being criticized. This time Pulitzer winning journalist Azmat Khan has been targeted by the social media giant.

    Azmat is an investigative reporter with New York Times, a Carneige Fellow and the Birch Assistant Professor at Columbia Journalism School.

    She took to Twitter (now X) and wrote, “After posting an Instagram story about the war in Gaza yesterday, my account was shadowbanned.”

    Khan expressed concerns affirmed by fellow journalists, “It’s an extraordinary threat to the flow of information and credible journalism about an unprecedented war.”

    She laid it all out for the world to know that the situation is getting dire for the journalists reporting from the war-zone. There are already extraordinary challenges to getting information from the ground — the killing of journalists, internet blackouts and electricity cuts— but these reports from journalists raise troubling questions about free press in this war.

    Other journalists weighed in by pointing out the rampant shadowbanning which may cause the valuable on-ground documentation to be lost. Alessandro Accorsi hinted at the “mistake” by which meta banned all content related to Sheikh Jarrah back in 2021.