The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called upon Pakistani authorities to unblock access to the YouTube channel of Ahmad Noorani, a journalist whose work has been increasingly scrutinized following critical reporting on the Pakistani military. The CPJ’s plea is accompanied by broader condemnation of the perceived systemic efforts to silence Noorani and other journalists through intimidation and legal actions.
Noorani, now based in the United States, has faced significant challenges following his investigative reports into high-ranking military officials, notably Pakistan’s Army Chief Qamar Bajwa. This scrutiny has resulted in censorship measures against his publication, Fact Focus, and allegations made by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) concerning the unauthorized access of tax records. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) argues that such actions contravene Pakistan’s Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, which is intended to safeguard journalistic freedom.
- In October 2017, Noorani was attacked in Islamabad, an incident that prompted calls for investigation. Despite a Senate report, the assailants remain at large.
- Noorani has also reported receiving death threats subsequent to his investigative work on military officials’ wealth.
- His brothers were allegedly abducted amid renewed legal challenges against Noorani under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, with serious implications for freedom of expression.
The domestic political climate and ongoing tensions, particularly in relation to the Indo-Pakistani conflict, pose added complexities, raising substantial concerns over press freedom in the region. Additionally, the introduction of recent amendments to social media regulations effectively enables expansive action against individuals critical of governmental policies, including journalists.
For further details, visit the original article on JURIST.