{"id":6620,"date":"2016-03-05T15:42:40","date_gmt":"2016-03-05T15:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hrcp-web.org\/hrcpweb\/?p=6620"},"modified":"2021-12-17T05:43:43","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T05:43:43","slug":"hrcp-calls-for-prosecuting-media-attackers-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrcp-web.org\/hrcpweb\/hrcp-calls-for-prosecuting-media-attackers-2\/","title":{"rendered":"HRCP calls for prosecuting media attackers"},"content":{"rendered":"
Lahore, March 5:\u00a0<\/i><\/b>The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed grave alarm over attack on media organisations and journalists\u00a0on Friday<\/span><\/span>\u00a0by mobs protesting the execution of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer\u2019s murderer.<\/div>\n
The Commission demanded that all those who had instigated and carried out the violence to intimidate the media must be brought to justice. In a statement issued\u00a0on Saturday<\/span><\/span>, HRCP said that while it welcomed condemnation of these attacks by the prime ministers, Punjab and Sindh chief ministers and other officials and their vows of protecting media freedoms, words alone could not assuage the fears of Pakistani media, which had been under attack from many quarters for years.<\/div>\n
\u201cThe attacks on the media in Karachi, Hyderabad and Lahore\u00a0on Friday<\/span><\/span>\u00a0are indeed attempts to curb freedom of expression. This is not the first time that the quarters wishing to dictate through violence what the media out or ought not cover have struck.\u00a0HRCP is strongly opposed to any attempt by state or non-state actors to influence or harass the media into submission.\u00a0Friday\u2019s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0attacks must receive more than mere condemnation from the official quarters. We call upon the authorities to make sure that all those who orchestrated and carried out the attacks on the media\u00a0on Friday<\/span><\/span>\u00a0must be effectively prosecuted under the law. Steps to ensure security for media from such attacks must also be taken in consultation with media and journalists\u2019 organisations.<\/div>\n
\u201cThe media organisations and journalists and the larger civil society should close their ranks against new threats in addition to the many perils they already face on account of their work.\u201d<\/u><\/u><\/div>\n
<\/u>\u00a0<\/u><\/div>\n
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Zohra Yusuf<\/b><\/div>\n
Chairperson<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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