PESHAWAR: The Press Freedom and Monitoring Committee of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), chaired by Chairman Hassan Abbas, convened a meeting to discuss critical issues concerning press freedom and media freedom in Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by committee members Amir Mahmood, Ghulam Nabi Chandio, and Arif Baloch.
Yahya Sadozai, Shakeel Turabi, and Zia Tanooli participated via video link.
A statement issued here stated the committee expressed deep concern over the ongoing challenges faced by the media in the country, particularly the killing of nine journalists this year, highlighting the worsening threats to journalistic safety.
The meeting condemned the mistreatment of the media during a political party rally in Islamabad and expressed alarm over the government’s actions in restricting access to information, including the periodic suspension of internet services, blocking of VPNs, and shutting down WhatsApp.
The committee members strongly criticized the detention of journalists such as Matiullah Jan, Saqib Bashir, and Shakir Mahmood Awan, calling these actions unlawful and a direct attack on press freedom and freedom of expression.
The forum reaffirmed CPNE’s long-standing commitment to defending press freedom, stressing the need for continued advocacy for the protection of journalists and the media.
The meeting also proposed the creation of a comprehensive action plan to address the growing threats to democracy and media independence in Pakistan.
The forum decided to initiating discussions with the government and administration on various forums, and organizing seminars in different cities to raise public awareness about the importance of media freedom.
