Anti-Terrorism Act | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Pakistani journalists face criminal complaints for covering dissident political leader

Pakistan Press Foundation

Journalists in the town of Badin in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province have been protesting against the police for falsely involving ten journalists in criminal complaints. Three of the journalists have been charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The journalists said that they are being victimized for covering the activities of Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza, a dissident […]


Faisal Mota challenges death sentence in Wali Babar murder case

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: A worker of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Faisal Mehmood alias Mota, on Tuesday petitioned the Sindh High Court against capital punishment handed down to him by an antiterrorism court in the Wali Khan Babar murder case. He was arrested along with many others during a raid in and around the MQM headquarters, popularly known […]


Pakistani media owner, three others sentenced to 26 years’ imprisonment for blasphemy

Pakistan Press Foundation

The anti-terrorism court in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan convicted four persons to 26 years in prison and a fine of 1.30 million rupees (approx. US$130,000) each for blasphemy. Those convicted include Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, owner of Geo Television network, Geo TV’s morning show host Shaista Lodhi, actress Veena Malik and her husband Malik Asad. [NOTE: The […]


‘Anti-terrorism laws being used against HR activists’

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: Israrud Din, a human rights activist from Gilgit Baltistan, said that anti-terrorism laws in the country are being used against human rights activists, political workers and those who speak up for their rights. He was speaking at a conference titled “The Convention against Torture and Pakistan: Towards Implementation and Accountability” organized by Human Rights […]


Case against Geo TV quashed

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court quashed on Friday a case lodged against Geo TV for broadcasting a programme whose contents were deemed sacrilegious. The management of the TV channel, the host of the programme and some others were booked on charges of airing the objectionable contents in a morning show in May. On the directive of […]


Warrants issued in ‘blasphemous’ programme case

Pakistan Press Foundation

QUETTA: An anti-terrorism court issued on Thursday arrest warrants for Mir Shakeelur Rehman, the owner of Geo TV, anchor Dr Shaista Lodhi, Zahida Malik alias Veena Malik and her husband Asad Bashir Khatak. Judge Tariq Anwar Kasi issued the warrants against the four for allegedly presenting and participating in a blasphemous programme. The warrants were […]


Geo owner booked under Anti-Terrorism Act

Pakistan Press Foundation

RAWALPINDI: Following an order by an additional district and sessions judge, police on Friday registered a case – under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the controversial blasphemy laws – against the owner of Geo TV and the producer and anchor of a morning show, for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of a particular sect. The judge, […]


FIR of attack on Hamid Mir lodged

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: Karachi police have registered an FIR against unidentified assailants into an armed attack against senior journalist Hamid Mir. The case was registered on behalf of sub-inspector Shahadat Khan under section 15 of Anti-Terrorism Act and 324/34 and 427 of PPO at the Airport Police Station. According to the FIR, the attack on Hamid Mir […]


Wali Babar case: Govt appoints defence lawyer

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has ordered appointment of a counsel, at state expense, for the accused persons in Geo TV reporter Wali Babar’s murder case. The defence lawyer of the accused Suleman Mujahid Baloch, MNA of Mutihida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has absented himself from the proceedings continuously. According to Anti Terrorism […]


HRCP deplores ‘lack of clarity, direction’ in handling crises

Pakistan Press Foundation

LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has voiced concern at what it called the absence of clarity and direction in dealing with pressing crises confronting the state. In a statement issued at the conclusion of its autumn meeting on Sunday, the HRCP executive body said: “The Executive Council of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan […]


Media and the inept Balochistan government

Pakistan Press Foundation

The cabinet-less Balochistan government, as effective as a blindfolded man walking down a busy highway, decided this week to lodge a First Information Report against a private TV channel for airing a video of how the self-styled Balochistan Liberation Army goons destroyed the Quaid’s Residency in Ziarat. But this isn’t all. The police officer who […]


Musical heritage: Shaukat Ali honoured with Pride of Punjab award

Pakistan Press Foundation

By: Cesare Baccheschi LAHORE: Folk singer Shaukat Ali was awarded the Pride of Punjab Award by the Pakistan Institute of Language, Art and Culture (PILAC) at a ceremony held here at the PILAC auditorium on Saturday. Talking to The Express Tribune, Ali said he felt honoured. He said, “The award comes from a country I […]