Karachi, (PR) : The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has strongly condemned the issuance of a notice to Dawn’s senior reporter Akbar Nautizai by the government over one of his investigative reports and the arrest of Sarfaraz Shah, owner of Guddushia Point Channel and a student of the journalism department at the University of Balochistan.
Expressing deep concern over the overall situation of freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Balochistan province, CPNE’s president and secretary-general stated in a joint statement that restricting freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Balochistan and arresting a journalist is a clear violation of Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
They said that the action against Akbar Nautizai under the guise of defamation was based on an investigative report he published on August 26 last year, in which he highlighted administrative irregularities, misuse of authority, alleged corruption, and other violations of rules and regulations in Balochistan province. Sarfaraz Shah was arrested merely on the grounds that he had not submitted a rental deed form.
CPNE has demanded that the government immediately withdraw the controversial notice issued against Akbar Nautizai to demonstrate its long-standing commitment to promoting democracy in the country and also release Sarfaraz Shah immediately. They said that such actions are leading to international scrutiny of democracy in Pakistan.