International Federation of Journalists castigates Pak over arrest of journalist

The International Federation of Journalists on Wednesday castigated the Pakistan government over the arrest of senior journalist Siddique JanThe press freedom body said that as the number of complaints filed against journalists increases so do concerns for press freedom in Pakistan The government must respect the fundamental right to freedom of expression and protect media workers from harassment intimidation and arbitrary detainmentIn a statement the IFJ condemned the arrest of Jan and urged the authorities to ensure that journalists can report on matters of public interest without fear of retaliation or persecutionPakistani state authorities arrested BOL News Bureau Chief Siddique Jan from outside the outletrsquos office in Islamabad on March 20 with the senior journalist appearing before an antiterrorism court in connection with a nearby riot during the court appearance of former prime minister Imran KhanOn March 20 Jan was detained outside the BOL News head office in Islamabad with CCTV footage showing approximately thirty plainclothes officers placing the journalist in a vehicle to an undisclosed locationThe senior journalist was accused of provoking violence against law enforcement by posting videos of police shelling supporters of Imran Khan and the Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI party outside the cityrsquos Federal Judicial Complex FJC on social media as the former prime minister appeared in court in a corruption case filed by the Election Commission of PakistanJan was moved to Ramna Police Station where a First Information Report FIR had been registered against him for inappropriate behaviour and incitement to violence The journalist had already raised concerns that he may be arrested by law enforcement agenciesAlso readSpace for media freedom has progressively eroded in Kashmir Editors Guild on arrest of journalist Irfan MehrajHe appeared before an antiterrorism court on March 21 where the journalistrsquos lawyers said he had covered Khanrsquos arrival at the FJC from the nearby rooftop of the Chaudhry Plaza along with ten other journalists In footage presented to the court and circulated on social media Jan is shown requesting a police officer to stop firing tear gas canisters into the crowd due to the risk of retaliation from the PTI supportersThe court remanded Jan in police custody for one day to be taken to Lahore to conduct a forensics testPrior to his arrest Pakistanrsquos Federal Investigation Agency FIA Cybercrime Branch served Jan a notice accusing him of incitement on social media The journalist challenged the decision at the Islamabad High Court on March 15 with the court ordering the FIA and the Islamabad Police to stop the harassment against himBOL News anchor Imran Riaz Khan was similarly arrested in early February after being investigated by the FIArsquos cyber authority According to the network transmissions from BOL news have been suspended in various cities across Pakistan with ARY News also facing suspension earlier in MarchIFJrsquos affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists PFUJ President GM Jamali and Secretary General Rana Muhammad Azim also condemned Janrsquos arrest The PFUJ leadership said ldquoillegal arrests of media workers are unacceptable and cause concern in the entire media community Janrsquos arrest in front of his office despite the security guarantee given by the Supreme Court is not only illegal but is tantamount to curtailing the freedom of the mediardquo