Global human rights organisation, Amnesty International urged the Pakistani government to take urgent action to protect the lives and rights of journalists, bloggers, civil society activists and other human rights defenders facing harassment, intimidation, threats and violence.
In an open letter to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, signed by Amnesty’s senior adviser South Asia, David Griffiths, the organisation termed the content of a show ‘Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga’ on a local TV channel, “a chilling example” of a “smear campaign.”
The show’s host reportedly warned a local TV channel to shut up or otherwise their entire organisation would have to flee the country since he would gather fatwas against them.
Amnesty alleged these shows had been used as “platforms to issue threats against journalists, civil society activists, bloggers and human rights defenders, smearing them as ‘anti-Pakistan’.”
The rights body urged Pakistani authorities to take “immediate steps to ensure the effective protection of human rights defenders, including by providing security when they are facing risks because of their peaceful human rights work, in close consultation and according to their wishes.”
It added that authorities should take decisive actions to create a safe and enabling environment “in which it is possible to defend and promote human rights without fear of punishment, reprisal or intimidation.”
“This must include the explicit and public recognition of the legitimate work carried out by human rights defenders and civil society organisations and other efforts to ensure that they can carry out their work without undue hindrance, including by allowing a swift process of registration and guaranteeing the right of associations to seek and receive funding,” the letter said.
Nice to read it ! beware for all news is better.
Regards
Mir Mohammad AliKhan
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