• November 19, 2024
• General News
• Web Desk

The Karachi Press Club (KPC), in partnership with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), and factions of the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), convened a meeting on November 16 to address the growing concerns over the government’s internet restrictions imposed under the guise of national security.

Participants denounced the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2024, which they argue legalizes enforced disappearances by allowing detentions based on mere suspicion, without civilian or judicial oversight. They also criticized the intermittent restrictions on VPNs and social platforms like X (formerly Twitter), framing these as severe infringements on freedom of expression and the right to information.

HRCP Co-Chair Munizae Jahangir explained that the proposed amendments would empower the state to hold individuals for up to three months based on mere allegations or vague threats to national security. She stressed the need for a coordinated civil society response, emphasizing that journalists, lawyers, and activists should unite in opposition to such sweeping powers.

HRCP Secretary General Harris Khalique called for strategic collaboration with media, unions, and political groups, while advocate Habib Tahir highlighted the ongoing struggles in Balochistan, where internet blackouts and press club shutdowns continue to stifle journalistic freedom.

KPC President Saeed Sarbazi expressed concerns over additional restrictions, such as the targeting of VPN usage and bans on the platform X (formerly Twitter). He noted that these measures were tightening the noose around citizens’ freedoms, particularly impacting freedom of expression.

Sarbazi also raised concerns over the Council of Islamic Ideology’s recent declaration labeling VPNs as “un-Islamic,” which, he argued, further restricts people’s rights. He illustrated the difficulties journalists face, sharing an example of how hotels in Karachi are now refusing accommodation to individuals with FIRs registered in Balochistan. He cited a specific case where a senior journalist from Quetta was denied lodging near the Thar coal plant, underscoring the tangible impact of these policies on media professionals.

Participants discussed potential advocacy steps, including drafting a civil society appeal to political leaders, as proposed by Aijaz Ahmed from KUJ. Meanwhile, PFUJ-Dastoor Secretary General A.H. Khanzada criticized politicians for seeking media support only when convenient and then enacting media restrictions once in power.

The meeting featured notable attendees like Ghazi Salahuddin, Salima Hashmi, and Mujahid Barelvi, among others, who collectively emphasized the necessity of protecting democratic freedoms. They argued that preventive detention, as outlined in the ATA Bill, does not constitute an appropriate or lawful response to security threats, failing to meet international human rights standards under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.