HRCP slams daily Ummat for using offensive language against Aurat March

The newspaper must publish an unconditional apology, demands rights organisation

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has condemned the use of offensive language by the Urdu daily newspaper — Ummat — against participants of the Aurat March.

“HRCP condemns the use of unethical and inappropriate language against women in the daily #Ummat. The newspaper must publish an unconditional apology and refrain from using such language in future,” the organisation demanded in a tweet from its official handle on Monday.

🗣️ HRCP condemns the use of unethical and inappropriate language against women in the daily #Ummat. The newspaper must publish an unconditional apology and refrain from using such language in future. 1/2

— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) April 5, 2021

The newspaper in its April 5 edition published a story on its front page about sexual violence against women. In an excerpt of the article, the Urdu daily used abusive word, which we cannot reproduce here, against the Aurat March management.

“This is the same newspaper that is orchestrating a vilification campaign against leading elderly writer #AmarJaleel. Such practices bring a bad name to the profession of journalism. The APNS and CPNE must take notice,” the HRCP said in a follow-up tweet.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) also issued a detailed statement denouncing “unethical and immoral attack on women in daily Ummat”.

PFUJ condemns uncalled for, unethical and immoral attack on women in daily Ummat#EnoughIsEnough @HamidMirPAK @geofahmigeo
@OfficialKUJ @AsmatullahNiazi pic.twitter.com/xDIMtkl3YQ

— PFUJ Official (@OfficialPfuj) April 5, 2021

Other netizens and journalists also slammed the use of derogatory and abusive language while seeking an apology from the administration of Ummat.

In which the widely read Pakistani Ummat newspaper refers to feminists and Aurat Azadi March organisers as "whores" in news copy. https://t.co/Mqkv6xJb4X

— Asad Hashim (@AsadHashim) April 5, 2021

#KUJ slams use of derogatory language by #Ummat newspaper on its front page for women and demands an apology, apart from action against those responsible for it... pic.twitter.com/rMXWy7BRqQ

— Bilal Farooqi (@bilalfqi) April 5, 2021