Press Statement

Pakistan: Journalist gets threats from PM adviser

23 Sep, 2019

An adviser to Pakistan’s Prime Minister has started issuing threats to senior journalists for opposing its policies and proposed media tribunals and courts. A senior Pakistani activist, journalist and political analyst, Arif Hameed Bhatti has received serious threats from Naeem ul haq, a Special Adviser to Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Arif Hameed Bhatti is a former President of PFUJ affiliate Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) and is currently CEO of Lahore based National News Channel, GNN. He has been a critic of the government’s policies and opposed the suggested media courts and tribunal.

Naeem ul haq, the Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Pakistan has issued serious threats to Arif Batti for his criticisms.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President GM Jamali and Secretary General Rana Muhammad Azeem condemn the government representative and ask the government to stop sending media men to cover up the government’s wrongdoings. The PFUJ continues to oppose the suggestion of media courts & trials in Pakistan.

The PFUJ leadership calls on the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to take notice and issue an international release to condemn the behaviour of the Pakistan government and its representatives.

The IFJ said: “We support the PFUJ and condemn the continued attacks on journalists in Pakistan. Whether the act was done by a non-government official or an adviser to the Prime Minister, the issue remains that journalists and the free press are under threat in Pakistan. We urge Pakistan’s government to take stronger action to protect the rights of journalists and ensure their safety.”