AI, RSF resent sedition cases against journalists

Rights watchdog expresses concern over 'the crackdown on voices critical of the state and military'

The Amnesty International (AI) and the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) raised concerns over the filing of “sedition” cases against some journalists in Pakistani in connection with the events of May 9, media report said on Thursday.

According to the report, the AI said in a statement that at least seven journalists and commentators had been charged with offences against the state and anti-terror laws in the past four days.

The rights watchdog expressed concern over “the crackdown on voices critical of the state and military”. The statement added: “The use of these laws to silence commentators and journalists is a violation of the right to freedom of expression.”

The AI said that the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) had been criticised for the sweeping powers given to the law-enforcement authorities to abuse human rights with impunity, and removes safeguards against arbitrary arrest, detention and ill-treatment.

It added that where there was sufficient evidence of wrongdoing, suspects should be charged under ordinary criminal laws, which were “not weaponised to restrict the freedom of expression” and produced before a civilian court.

The AI statement followed an earlier statement from the RSF, which urged the Pakistan authorities to immediately dismiss the “mutiny accusations in a complaint with no credibility” as such charges could carry the death penalty.

Quoting RSF Asia Pacific head Daniel Bastard as saying, the RSF stated that “arbitrarily” associating the names of journalists with those of “rebel ex-army officers” was meant to intimidate the journalists into silence.

“In view of the absurdity of the supposed incriminating evidence, we call on the Islamabad prosecutor’s office to dismiss this complaint, which should never have been received.

The statement also mentioned the disappearance of anchorperson Imran Riaz, whose whereabouts remain unknown since his arrest at the Sialkot airport on May 11. It also mentioned Zubair Anjum allegedly being picked up in Karachi earlier this month.

Prior to this incident, activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir was allegedly picked up by unidentified men in Karachi on June 1, and returned home around 24 hours later following protests and calls for his recovery.

Similarly, senior journalist Sami Abraham was also taken away by unidentified men in Islamabad on May 24 and returned home six days later. His brother Ali Raza had filed a complaint of abduction at Aabpara Police Station.