Journalists challenge ban on match coverage

Petitioners say PCB's move is a reaction to criticism of team's performance

ISLAMABAD:

The Rawalpindi Islamabad Sports Journalists Association (RISJA) has moved Islamabad High Court against the ban on journalists covering the second test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, starting Friday.

IHC Justice Babar Sattar will hear the plea on Wednesday (today). The petition submitted through Abdul Wahid Qureshi advocate stated that PCB could not stop journalists from fulfilling their professional responsibilities.

The petitioners prayed the court to direct the PCB to issue accreditation cards to journalists.

The petitioners contended that they had reported various national and international cricket events, including World Cup, World T20 and Champions Trophy, adding that the PCB's act deprived them of their constitutional right of media coverage.

The petitioners said the PCB's move is a reaction to criticism of the team's performance following Pakistan's defeat against Bangladesh.

They pointed out that barring journalists from coverage was against the freedom of expression, adding Article 19 and 19 A of the Constitution guarantees the freedom of expression.

The PCB cannot bar journalists from coverage on the basis of criticism, stated the petition.

The petition named the federal government, Prime Minister as patron-in-chief, cabinet secretary and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi as respondents.