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Pakistan Press Foundation

Mohsin Baig sent to judicial custody for 14 days

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday turned down police request to extend physical remand of journalist Mohsin Baig and sent him to jail on judicial remand in a case registered against him for allegedly attacking Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officers and injuring one of them during a raid. Police produced the accused Baig before […]


Athar Mateen’s murder: Balochistan government confirms arrest of suspect

Pakistan Press Foundation

QUETTA: Balochistan government on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of a suspect, who allegedly opened fire on journalist Athar Mateen during a robbery bid, from Khuzdar district of the province. Parliamentary Secretary to Balochistan CM on Information Bushra Rind said that the prime suspect in Athar Mateen murder case has been arrested after Sindh police identified […]


PPF condemns FIA raid on Mohsin Baig’s residence

Pakistan Press Foundation

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) has expressed concern at the unauthorized raid conducted by officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at the house of editor and analyst Mohsin Baig. While the FIA is within its jurisdiction to investigate complaints, a raid conducted prior to the registration of the criminal complaint, is condemnable and an act […]


PPF rejects amendments to PECA, 2016; terms them a move that will stifle free speech in Pakistan

Pakistan Press Foundation

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) has rejected the recent amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 by the federal government that are a move to stifle free speech in Pakistan. These amendments to the law are likely to have a chilling effect on free expression in Pakistan and result in censorship across the media. In […]


Government mission to promote Right to Information Act: Hassan

Pakistan Press Foundation

Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Information and Spokesperson Government of the Punjab Hasaan Khawar has said that proactive disclosure of information to the public by state institutions is the most basic and foremost part of the government’s mission to promote the Right to Information Act. There is still a long way to go. […]


Bars term PECA ordinance a bid to stifle dissent, freedom of expression

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: While deploring a recent amendment to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, three bar associations unanimously turned down the change to the law terming it an attempt to stifle dissent and freedom of expression. In a statement on Tuesday, the Supreme Court Bar Association said, “Under the guise of PECA Ordinance, the […]


The Karachi Press Club flays government for imposing ‘fresh curbs’ on media freedom

Pakistan Press Foundation

The Karachi Press Club (KPC) has expressed dismay over PTI-led government’s alleged attempts to impose fresh curbs on the freedom of speech and expression that “Pakistani citizens are constitutionally entitled to”. “Through a presidential ordinance, itself an inherently undemocratic tool for legislation, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PT) has slapped fresh amendments onto the black law […]


The Islamabad High Court dismisses petition against press club elections

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday dismissed a petition challenging the recent polls of National Press Club (NPC) Islamabad while declaring the plea as non-maintainable. Chief Justice Athar Minallah, hearing the case, remarked that it was a point of concern if the journalists’ community could not arrange peaceful elections. The court observed that […]


Islamabad High Court (IHC) lambasts Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for citing wrong sections of cyber law

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday observed that “criminalisation of defamation and its abuse, prima facie, appears to be in violation of the Constitution” and the “threat to free speech… cannot be tolerated in a democratic society governed under the Constitution”. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah made these observations while hearing the petitions […]


Journalist bodies walk out on government over bid to mute dissent

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: Registering a strong protest against what is believed to be a blatant attempt to curb freedom of expression through a controversial ordinance, representatives of media and journalist organisations on Monday walked out from a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and vowed not to hold any further engagement with the […]


Government rejects criticism of media law

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan, his party leaders and spokespersons on Monday rejected criticism of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Amendment (PECA) Ordinance 2022 as unwarranted. A meeting, chaired by the prime minister, said that no one could be vilified now after promulgation of the ordinance. The meeting also decided that the elements indulging in […]


Journalist Najam Sethi fined by court

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: A local court in Islamabad has fined journalist and anchorperson Najam Sethi over seeking acquittal in a defamation case for delivering misleading statements against Prime Minister Imran Khan and First Lady Bushra Bibi, ARY News reported on Monday. The district and session judge Islamabad conducted the hearing of Najam Sethi’s acquittal plea in a […]


Journalist killing case registered under Anti-Terrorism Act section

Pakistan Press Foundation

Despite claiming to have found leads in the case of journalist Athar Mateen’s killing, police are yet to arrest the culprits. A case of the killing was, however, registered on Sunday under a section of the Anti-Terrorism Act. An FIR No 87/22 was registered on the complaint of the deceased journalist’s brother Tariq Mateen at […]


All set to regulate social media through ordinance

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: In another move to regulate social media despite criticism from stakeholders and digital rights activists, the government is all set to promulgate an ordinance declaring defamation of people and institutions on social media a cognizable offence, with jail term being increased from two to five years. The drafts of the proposed legislations, including an […]