ISLAMABAD: Journalist bodies, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AMEND) on Thursday strongly condemned the police raid on the Islamabad Press Club and the assault on journalists, describing the incident as an act of terrorism and urging the government to take immediate action against those responsible.
In a joint statement, the bodies said that the attack forms part of a continuing pattern of harassment against members of the press.
They expressed alarm at recent advertisements circulated in national and regional media under the headline, “Now what form will the war take?” which, they said, use threatening language to place reporters, freelancers and civil-society actors on an “anti-state” list.
The statement demanded an immediate halt to such ads, calling them an attempt to smear journalists, intimidate the media and curtail freedom of expression.
The statement said it was a blatant violation of the principles of free journalism to equate reporters and freelancers who responsibly reported during the crisis — keeping national interest and security in mind — with terrorists.
It stressed that the Constitution guarantees every citizen unfettered access to information and that responsible Pakistani media have consistently prioritised the country’s security while informing the public.
The joint release also criticised what it described as the arbitrary and excessive use of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), saying the law had validated journalists’ fears.
Dozens of journalists across the country are said to be facing cases under PECA, the statement added, and warned that the act is being used as a pretext to silence government critics and curb freedom of expression.
While the organisations reiterated their rejection of any baseless, false or fabricated news spread for personal gain and said they would continue to discourage those responsible, they warned that deliberate attempts to create an atmosphere of fear and harassment would not be tolerated.
The statement said that the journalist bodies would resist such measures at all levels and pursue every constitutional and legal remedy available.