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ANNUAL REPORT 2023

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​KILLINGS

• September 04, 2024: Unidentified killers shot dead a journalist, Nisar Ahmed Lehri, in the Gul Kund area of Mastung, in the troubled province of Balochistan. He came under attack while returning home and died on the spot. Journalist Lehri was affiliated with a regional news agency and a former press secretary for the Sarawan Press Club, Mastung. Motive: According to the police, the murder was the result of a tribal clash and land dispute. NewsDesk
  

• August 27, 2024: Unidentified killers shot dead a journalist, Bachal Ghunio, affiliated with the Sindhi language ‘Awaz TV’, in the remote Rounti Kacha area of Ghotki, Sindh province. According to the police, he was visiting his crop field. The police have shifted the body to the Ubuaro hospital and started the investigation. Some area residents alleged the outlaws for his murder. Ghunio’s minor son told the Geo News that “there was enmity between his father and some community members. However, Ghunio was killed despite the issues being decided upon.” Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Governor Kamran Tessori, and Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar have condemned the killings and asked the police for swift action against the criminal gangs and bandits in the Kacha area. Though the police investigation is ongoing and Ghunio’s son thought of the murder as personal enmity, the provincial Government statements indicate the involvement of the bandits of the Kacha. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the killing and claimed that the bandits had seized Ghunio’s land. It is a developing story. Motive: UNDETERMINED Katcha (unpaved) area lies on the banks of the Indus River with dense forests, swampland, tiny islands, and grass as tall as 15 to 20 feet. The large area spread in the provinces of Sindh from Ghotki to the Northern coastal banks and the Punjab districts, including Dera Ghazi Khan (DI Khan), Rajanpur, and Rahim Yar Khan, and covers over 15,000 square kilometers on both sides of the Indus River, in Punjab. The government and big landlords with political connections own much of the land. The absolute control of outlaws turned the area into a no-go for the police. The provincial governments have launched several assaults against the outlaws in Katcha, but they keep coming back. The military launched a full-scale operation against the outlaws in 1990 and cleared the area. However, the succeeding governments failed to keep the area clear of outlaws, and they re-emerged after a while. It is reported that some politicians and big landlords collude with them to do away the enemies. Over the years, the outlaws have killed dozens of law enforcement personnel. The Katcha outlaws killed at least 14 policemen in a recent ambush. The Punjab police identified Kosh, Sher, Andahr, Bux Ali Sher, and Gudail Sher as the key outlaws operating in the area. Authorities have been offering head money on the known outlaws, which remained futile. After head-money, the outlaws openly warned the authorities in video and audio recordings. In September 2023, outlaws holding anti-aircraft gun videos and pictures made rounds on social media, which caused the European aviation regulator to issue a travel advisory for Pakistan. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) warned the flights from “low altitude” in Karachi and Lahore for that reason. Public and security analysts raised questions as to how the outlaws got their hand on the Anti-aircraft guns. NewsDesk    

• July 14, 2024: Unidentified motorcyclists shot dead 40-year-old journalist Malik Hassan Zaib, affiliated with the Urdu daily Aaj, in Akbarpura, Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. He was traveling in a car with his brother, Anwar Zaib when the attackers targeted him. Journalist Hassan Zaib died instantaneously while his brother remained unharmed. Journalist Zaib was affiliated with the Khyber Union of Journalists (KHUJ) and the Peshawar Press Club (PPC). His brother has filed a police report known as the First Information Report (FIR). Journalist Zaib covered healthcare and city news. The police are investigating the murder and found the footage of the killers on the crime scene from a CCTV. NewsDesk/ Motive: The police concluded the investigation within weeks and arrested key suspects while attempting to arrest their accomplices. LAND AND DOMESTIC DISPUTE 
  

• June 18, 2024: Unidentified killers shot dead a senior journalist Khalil Jibran, affiliated with a privately owned, Pashto-language, Khyber News channel, and the former president of the Landi Kotal Press Club, while he was returning home in Landi Kotal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. District Police Officer (DPO) Khyber Salim Abbas told media that the gunmen, riding motorcycles, dragged him out of the car and killed him. Journalist Jibran was traveling with his friend Sajjad Advocate, and the car had some mechanical problems when the killers killed him and wounded Sajjad. Mr. Jibran died instantaneously. Sajjad has registered a police report known as the first information report (FIR) against unknown killers. The police have set up an investigation team to investigate the murder of journalist Jibran. The journalists protested the killings. June 30, 2024: Arsonists destroyed the snooker club on Jibran’s property. His 17-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter told authorities that the unidentified criminals threatening them and wanted to cut off their only source of income by setting the snooker club on fire; the unidentified criminals had been threatening us for a long to establish their monopoly in the area. Jibran’s son said we are under “constant threats” and requested the government for immediate relocation of the family. Motive: UNDETERMINED Unidentified attackers had attacked Jibran with a grenade in 2014 and attempted to blow up his car in 2017. Terrorists and local militia threatened Jibran many times because of his work. The militancy has returned to Pakistan and claimed hundreds of lives, including Law enforcement officers (LEAs), civilians, journalists, and rights activists. Pakistan launched a new counterterrorism operation, Azm-e-Istehkam (pledge to solidify), in June 2024 after rampant militancy. Pakistan has conducted two major operations against terrorists in the past; on June 15, 2014, Operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched, a joint military offensive conducted by the Pakistan Armed Forces against various militant groups, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, al-Qaeda, Jundallah, and Lashkar-e-Islam. On February 23, 2017, Pakistani forces began Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, which has not yet formally ended.  NewsDesk

• May 24, 2024: journalist Nasrullah Gadani, affiliated with the Sindhi Daily, Awami Awaz, succumbed to his injuries. On May 21, 2024, Unidentified armed assailants riding a motorbike shot and injured journalist Nasrullah Gadani in Mirpur Mathelo, the Sindh province. Three bullets hit the different parts of Gadani. The Station House Officer (SHO) of the concerned police station, Sadruddin Luk, rushed to the crime scene and shifted Mr. Gadani to Civil Hospital Mirpur Mathelo. Later, the doctors moved the journalist to Shaikh Zayed Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan and then air-lifted to the Agha Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, where his condition was stated as “critical.” Mr. Gadani was on his motorbike when attacked at around 11 am. The police were investigating the crime. May 25, 2024: The Commission for the Protection of Journalists and other media practitioners (CJMP) expressed mistrust for the investigation team working on journalist Gadani's case and asked the authority to form a new investigation team. May 28, 2024: After over a week’s delay, Mirpur Mathelo Police Station in Ghotki registered a case (commonly known as the first information report FIR) against unknown killers under Anti-Terrorist Act sections 302 for premeditated murder, 337-H, 120-B, 506 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997. Gadani’s mother, Ms Pathani, was the plaintiff.  June 10, 2024: Three suspects had been arrested in the murder case of journalist Nasurllah Gadani. June 28, 2024: Gadani’s mother, Ms. Pathani Gadani, witnesses Yaqoub Gadani, Salahuddin Gadani, and their lawyer, Salahuddin Panhwar, alleged Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker Khalid Khan Loond, his sons, Shehbaz Loond, and Noor Mohammad Loond orchestrated the murder. They recorded their allegations under Section 164 Cr-PC in a court and said the accused are well-connected political figures, and the police are scared to include their names in the police report (commonly known as the first information report FIR). Mr. Panhwar said the lawmaker and his two sons have been threatening Gadani with death threats for him and himself. The police delayed recording Gadani’s family and witnesses’ statements for over 40 days. According to police, the case would now progress to the anti-terrorism court. The police presented Asghar Loond, a suspect in custody, in front of a judge who remanded him in judicial custody for five days. June 30, 2024: After fierce criticism of the investigation and political meddling to protect the main suspects, the investigation of Gadani’s murder transferred to a senior police officer, Siraj Lashari.  August 08, 2024: The Sindh High Court ordered the authorities to provide security to the family of Gadani. Gadani’s family lawyer informed the court that the police had failed to file a charge sheet or report against the suspect. He told the court that the suspects were continuously threatening the family and were supported by a large number of cronies in the court appearance. Motive: UNDETERMINED.  Mr. Gadani was one of the fearless journalists in Pakistan who would challenge and expose the untouchables, elites, bureaucrats, politicians, and influential. He was a bitter critic of those plundering and robbing the resources of Pakistan, and he used his vlogs for awareness and social good. The independent sources alleged that a lawmaker of a mainstream political party was involved in the crime. Mr. Gadani wanted the local businesses and the manufacturers to contribute to the welfare of the community of his native impoverished village Ghotki, and write about the collusion between the authorities and the bandits. Journalism was his passion, and he worked hard to support his family. He left behind a widow, four sons, two daughters, and his mother.  Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Suspected role and record: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has been an intermittent force in Pakistan politics. Founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and his tenure ended with the death penalty. His daughter, Benazir Bhutto was elected twice as the Prime Minister and killed in a terrorist attack in Pakistan. During her tenure, her brother Murtaza Bhutto was killed in Karachi, but Benazir did not pursue a fair investigation of her brother's murder. Her close aides and insiders alleged her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, for Murtaza’s murder. Fatima Bhutto, daughter of Murtaza Bhutto, a celebrated writer, raised her voice for unreliable investigation of her father’s murder. Asif Ali Zardari seized the power of the PPP after Benazir's murder. He has been the President of Pakistan once and is also the current President of Pakistan. In addition, the PPP has been in power in Sindh province for over three decades. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is the son of Benazir, and Zardari is also a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly. Against the cultural norms, the young and infant Bhuttos added Bhutto in their names to continue their political inheritance and keep the Bhutto dynasty alive. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has ruled Sindh province for over three decades. PPP, predominantly consisting of wealthy landowners with political inheritance, is mocked and tainted with corruption. The party vehemently protects the Bhutto family and the vested interests of its members while people continue to beg for clean water, medical, transportation, jobs, security, and sanitation. On February 16, 2020, unidentified killers murdered a journalist, Aziz Memon, who was working with Sindhi TV channel KTN News and Sindhi-language daily Kawish, and disposed of the body in a canal in Naushahro Feroze, a rural part of the Sindh province. The journalist's family informed the media that the journalist was working on a story. In 2019, Mr. Memon traveled to the capital Islamabad, for safety. He revealed in a video message that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Naushahro Feroze, and party activists intimidating him over his news report claiming the PPP paid money to hundreds of poor people to greet the chairman of the part and member of the National Assembly (NA), Bilawal Bhutto, in a march from Karachi to Larkana. According to Mr. Memon, PPP had promised to pay RS. 2,000 to attend the march, whereas the party paid only Rs. 200 after the march was over. In his video message, Mr. Memon maintained his non-partisanship and repeatedly begged for safety from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) affiliates and activists. Video link https://twitter.com/siasatpk/status/1229113448543531010  Mian Abdul Haq, commonly known as "Mian Mitthu," is the ringleader of forced marriages and forced conversions of underage minority girls in the Sindh province also belongs to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). September 18, 2024: Undefined gunmen attacked the protesters and the family of Gadani and critically injured Gadani's brother, Yaqoob Gadani, and two protesters in Mirpur Mathelo. In a surprising setback, the police booked Yaqoob Gadani, Nasrullah’s brother, and other protestors over allegations of inciting violence. The Gadani family and friends had been protesting for the arrest of the killers for four months. The attackers targeted the protesters after they were returning from a protest in front of Mirpur Mathelo Press Club and demanded due justice for Gadani. Journalist Imtiaz Chandio alleged prime suspect Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker Khalid Khan Loond was behind the attack.NewsDesk 

• May 21, 2024: Taliban militants shot dead a young journalist, Kamran Khan Dawar, in Tapi, North Waziristan. Taliban. Mr. Khan was instrumental in freedom and raising his voice against the Taliban and affiliated with the National Democratic Movement (NDM). Taliban has re-emerged and regrouped in the rugged terrain of Waziristan and re-established a reign of terror. The tribal belt of Waziristan has been a hotbed of conflict between native Pashtun nationalists and the Pakistan military. The armed conflict started in 2004 when Pakistani forces reached the region in pursuit of the Afghan Taliban. The Taliban blended and used Pashtun communities as human shields. The nationalists called the fight a conflict to demand their constitutional rights, while the military called it terrorism and insurgency. Some independent activists claimed that the Taliban have killed over 600 civilians and hundreds of security forces personnel over the years with impunity. NewsDesk

• May 15, 2024: Unidentified assailants riding a motorbike shot dead journalist Mehar Ashfaq Siyal, affiliated with Daily Khabrain, in Muzzafargarh near Thermal Bypass, Punjab. The journalist and his brother, Muhammad Ishaq, rode different bikes and headed toward the city. Pillion riders stopped Ashfaq Siyal and shot him three times in the chest. Ishaq took his brother to DHQ Hospital, but Ashfaq Siyal succumbed to his injuries. The police were investigating the murder and the motive. Motive: UNDETERMINED. NewsDesk
  

• May 03, 2024: unidentified attackers killed Maulana Muhammad Siddique Mengal, the President of the Khuzdar Press Club (KPC) and a provincial senior leader of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan-Fazl (JUI-F), two others, and injured nine more including a policeman with a bomb attack, in the Chamrok area of Khuzdar, Balochistan province. The blast killed Mr. Mengal on the spot. According to police, CCTV footage caught a motorcyclist who planted a “magnetic bomb” in the mengal’s vehicle, which was detonated. The Counter-Terrorism Department is investigating the crime. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, the Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) have condemned the attack. Mr. Mengal was a well-respected figure in the community. NewsDesk Motive: UNDETERMINED.
  

• April 19, 2024: GUJAR KHAN: Mystery shrouds the killing of a woman belonging to Pakpattan whose body was found lying alongside the GT Road near Lehry forests in the jurisdiction of Sohawa police on March 11. The mutilated body with stab wounds and acid burns was later buried by the police declaring it “unidentified”. The police then registered a case on its own and started investigations. Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Ahsan Butt told Dawn that the police after matching her fingerprints with Nadra records identified the deceased as Tahira Nosheen Rana, a resident of Chak-33 SP, Pakpattan. She turned out to be a journalist attached to a local Urdu paper. He said her heirs were also traced and her brother approached the police and claimed that she had not been in contact with the family since 2018 after she got divorced from her first husband and married to another man. He said the first husband of his sister had died and she had a daughter from him. Motive: UNDETERMINED
  

• March 14, 2024: Three unidentified individuals armed with AK-47 assault rifles and pistols stormed into a pharmacy and shot dead journalist Jam Saghir Ahmed Lar in Khanpur, the Punjab province. Lar was affiliated with the Daily Khabrain newspaper, a freelancer for the local media, former Nawankot Press Club President, and working part-time in the pharmacy. Jaleel Ahmed, brother of Lar, filed a police report (commonly known as the first information report FIR) 369/24 at the Saddar Police Station the next day. He said the killers got away on a motorbike after the crime, and unidentified sources threatened to kill Shar for his reporting on dominant persons in the area. The family of the journalist was unaware of the motive of the killings. NewsDesk. Motive: UNDETERMINED 
  

​​​​​​​​​​​​ASSAULTS | ARRESTS | HARASSMENT

• October 11, 2024: Pakistan Press Foundation reported a wave of attacks on journalists and media professionals was documented during the recent protests at the end of September and the first week of October. Geo News reporter Haider Shirazi was tortured by police officers while filming police actions against a protester on September 28 in Islamabad. Despite identifying himself as a journalist, Shirazi’s phone was confiscated in direct contravention of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021,  and he was taken to an undisclosed location. Additionally, Sajjad Kazmi, a reporter for Such TV, and his cameraman Fakhar Hayat were beaten by police officers on October 4 while covering a PTI protest in Faizabad, Islamabad. Kazmi stated: “We kept telling them we were journalists, but they didn’t listen and continued attacking us.” Qamar Makeen, a reporter for GTV, was also assaulted while covering a PTI protest on October 5 in Islamabad. Makeen reported that around 8 to 9 pm, while passing through the Shaheed-e-Millat area, he witnessed police officers beating a person on the ground. As he began recording, the police approached him, and despite his attempts to show his press card and identify himself as a journalist, they grabbed him by the collar, dragged him, and beat him. Makeen recalled an officer saying, “Ruk abhi teri sahafat nikaalte hain” (“Wait, we’ll deal with your journalism now”). He was only released when other officers intervened. Shaken, he sought refuge in a nearby office. On October 4, Tahir Naseer, a senior reporter for Dawn News, and freelance cameraman Yasir Mehmood were attacked by police while covering a PTI rally at Dhok Kala Khan Bridge, Express Highway in  Islamabad. Naseer stated that the police, under the pretense of checking their press cards, snatched their wallets and attempted to seize their equipment. Despite identifying themselves as journalists, they were assaulted. Station House Officer Khanna, Irshad Cheema, slapped Naseer and ordered further shelling on them while other officers attempted to confiscate their mobile phones. Both Naseer and Mehmood narrowly escaped the attack. Digital journalist Zeeshan Noor Chaudhry shared in a post on X that he was arrested while covering the PTI protests in Islamabad. Hasnain Rafiq, an anchor for Naya Pakistan Channel, said his home was raided. Makhdoom Shahab Uddin, Islamabad, in a post shared on X,  said he was arrested and later released. Zahida Rao, a reporter for ABN News, reported harassment and physical restraint by male police officers during her coverage of a protest in Islamabad. Despite showing her press card, she was surrounded and forced to delete footage documenting police violence. Similarly, Allah Noor Wazir, a reporter for Mashriq TV, was beaten with sticks by police officers while covering a PTI protest in China Chowk, Islamabad, sustaining injuries to his hand and leg. Amanat Goshkari, a crime reporter for 24 News, was fired upon with rubber bullets by police during the Islamabad protests on October 3. Goshkari had been assigned by his office to cover the protest; while he stood on the sidelines and his cameraman was capturing footage, the police began firing tear gas and bullets at the protesters, and a rubber bullet struck him, resulting in an eye injury. Baber Malik, a reporter for ARY News, was attacked by PTI protestors on September 28 while covering events on Muree Road, Islamabad. Malik recounted how stones were thrown at him by protestors, causing minor injuries and damaging his mobile phone. Source & more details.
  

• October 2024: Radical group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) targeted an award-winning senior investigative journalist, Azaz Syed, with online life- threats, name-calling, and profanities. The journalist had criticized TLP in a show called Talk SHOCK over increased killings and arbitrary blasphemy allegations. Immediately after his show, life-threatening messages, obnoxious phone calls, and his social media accounts flooded his devices and accounts. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) urged the government to find those behind the campaign against Mr. Syed and ensure his safety. NewsDesk 
  

• September 30, 2024: On September 22, Waheed Khan Tajik, President of Jandol Press Club, and Shamal TV cameraman Sami ul Huq were attacked by staff at Samar Bagh Hospital in Lower Dir district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while reporting on the alleged neglect of a critically injured patient by medical specialist Dr. Saeed Ullah. Speaking to the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) on September 23, Tajik recounted being called to Samar Bagh Hospital to report on the case of Arshad Iqbal, a young man who had suffered severe injuries in an accident. Despite Iqbal’s critical condition, he was left unattended for two hours by the hospital staff. Upon Tajik’s arrival with Huq, Dr. Saeed Ullah recommended that the patient be transferred to an orthopedic specialist but refused to provide the written referral necessary for an ambulance. Tajik sought assistance from the hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr. Fazal Qayyum, who instructed Dr. Saeed Ullah to properly recommend a hospital. However, Ullah failed to act. Tajik proceeded to report on the issue with permission from Dr. Qayyum. While recording the patient’s and his family’s statements, a hospital staff member, identified as dispenser Saleem Ullah, attempted to stop the coverage. Despite the attempt to halt his work, Tajik continued reporting on the matter. He also arranged a private ‘We Care’ ambulance to transfer Iqbal to the District Headquarters Hospital in Lower Dir. Full Story

• September 22, 2024: Three local journalists suffered injuries when a group of armed men attacked them while they were busy covering a scene of altercation between shopkeepers on M.A. Jinnah Road, in Mirpurkhas, Sindh province. www.dawn.com reported that Ubaidullah Kori, Raja Rashid and Ehsan Kori were filming two groups of shopkeepers exchanging hot words and clashing with each other when some armed men tried to stop the journalists from performing their professional work. When they did not stop they attacked them, snatched their mobile phone sets and broke their mikes, said the victims. They approached town police to register their complaint but police avoided registering their case. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists’ Mirpurkhas chapter president Qamaruddin, general secretary M.A. Rehmani and treasurer Saleem Shaikh demanded authorities ensure immediate arrest of the culprits. News Desk

• September 2024: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) booked journalist and YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan and seven others under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Section 20 (threats, abetment, and privacy breach) over allegations of leading social media campaign against the judiciary.  Imran Riaz Khan rapidly rose to fame after his unflinching support to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on his YouTube channel. He cooperated and targeted the political opponents of PTI, including women journalists, and was boastful in his vlogs about the monetary benefits and privileges given to him by PTI in return for its support. After PTI’s fall, the police intermittently booked and arrested him. In 2023, he disappeared for over four months.  Please check the timeline for the details. NewsDesk    

• September 08, 2024: The Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province, Ali Amin Gandapur, hurled obscenities and leveled unfounded allegations against media and journalists in a public gathering in the capital city of Islamabad. The gangster-styled Gandapur called journalists sellouts and brokers, collusion, sexist and misogynist remarks targeting women journalists and rival politicians. He warned authorities for the immediate release of PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, or he would have him released by force within 15 days. He alleged the media for not speaking in PTI's favor and construed it as mistreatment. He asked the participants to expose those journalists. He ridiculed women journalists and all the journalists and continued his foul language and bullying during his speech. Imran Khan's immediate reaction from jail was celebratory over Gandapur threats, and he desisted from issuing a condemnation. His outburst greatly endangers the safety of the journalists, women, and political opponents. Angry PTI supporters barred several journalists from covering the gathering and pushed them out of the event. Gandapur is the member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). PTI has introduced a mafia-style culture in Pakistan politics, using manipulation, gas-lighting, threats, trolling, and robust social media use for disseminating fake news to glorify Imran Khan and demean the opponents with unfounded accusations, photo-shopped images and videos. Over the years, they have targeted political rivals, break-away members of PTI, women, judges, and security agencies. On May 9, 2023, the PTI activists brazenly attacked the military and heritage property in Pakistan. PTI social media activists, including the central leadership, have participated in threatening and character assassination campaigns on social media against martyred soldiers, critics, political rivals, and institutions. The National Press Club (NPC), The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND), The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), The Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ), The Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), The Karachi Press Club (KPC), advocacy groups, journalists and member of the civil society have condemned Gandapur’s rants. AEMEND's condemnatory statement said, “The chief minister's language was threatening. He has proved his moral decline by speaking against women. By using these words, he has violated Section 10 of the Cyber Crimes Act 2016, which deals with "cyber terrorism" and Section 10A, which deals with "hate speech". Therefore, the Aurat Foundation demands that a case be instituted immediately against the KP CM for violating these provisions by the concerned authorities.” After a fierce backlash from the journalists, press organizations, and journalists boycott, from the National Assembly (NA), PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan tendered an unconditional apology for Gandapur’s remarks. NewsDesk 

• September 2024: The police arrested journalist Zaffar (Zafar) Mughal, affiliated with Daily Uraan, and booked other journalists, including Abid Hussain Shah, president of the Kashmir Press Club, Zafeer Bacha affiliated with Daily Uraan, Amjad Baig affiliated with JK News and Raja Mushtaq Ahmed under Section 22-A, in Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The police report known as the First Information Report (FIR) is the continuation of a 2020 case involving allegations that Sardar Naseer Sarwar, the Superintendent of Mirpur Jail, sexually assaulted a female inmate. The journalists deny the charges and call it reprisal and silencing the media. According to Sardar Sarwar, the complainant, "The High Court had upheld the session court ruling in 2023 in our favor; the journalists did not appeal the high court ruling in the Supreme Court, which legally grants us the right to register the cases. “The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Kashmir Press Club, All Kashmir Newspapers Society (AKNS), and the journalists have condemned the police action and defended the accused journalists. They want authorities to release Zaffar Mughal and withdraw charges against all nominated in the FIR. The journalists rallied from Kashmir Press Club to Chowk Shaheedan in solidarity with the journalists. (Section 22-A of the Criminal Procedure Code - CrPC, empowers Ex-Officio Justices of Peace (EOJPs), typically senior judges, to address complaints regarding non-registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) by the police - police reluctance to register complaints, particularly in cases involving influential individuals or sensitive matters). NewsDesk
  

• August 2024: Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) announced a bounty on journalists covering the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community issues. TLP activists openly incite violence against Ahmadis and lure their followers to kill Ahmadis in return for heaven after death. The succeeding governments have surrendered to TLP and failed to take action for their killings of minorities,  the uniformed police, damaging the government property worth billions of rupees, and seizure of the main highways to bring lives to a complete halt. On June 08, 2024, a 19-year-old fundamentalist, brainwashed by the known terrorist outfit Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)s’, open and repeated calls to kill Ahmadiyya Muslims, killed two members of Ahmadi faith, 64-year-old Ghulam Sarwar and 30-year-old Rahat Bajwah in Mandi Bahauddin, the Punjab province. Over the years, Pakistan has been surrendering to the demands of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a party of violent religious fundamentalists, overt supporters of blasphemy laws, and anti-minority Shia and Ahmadiyya. TLP used every opportunity to seize the streets of large cities in the country to terrorize minorities. The TLP has killed and injured several civilians and law enforcement officers, destroyed federal and public properties worth billions of rupees, and brought the country to a halt in 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021. In November 2021, fearing the seizure of the capital city of Islamabad and the parliament, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) unbanned TLP and released all the detainees, including those who were charged with the killings of civilians and at least 12 policemen. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) banned the coverage of TLP occupation and attacks to hide the killings and destruction. In June 2023, the coalition government of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) surrendered to the demands of TLP and agreed on speedy trials for blasphemy accused, de-notify all Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) notifications against the TLP, and the accused under 295C would also be charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) Section 7, and technology to filter the blasphemous material from social media. In August 2023, The Senate amended the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 to increase the punishments for those who disrespect Ahle Bait or Sahaba-e-Karam (family and friends of Prophet Muhammad). The amendments were celebrated by the radicals while minorities feared more deaths and destruction. Under extreme pressure from TLP and other radical groups, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) had to reverse his ruling in the Mubarak Sani blasphemy case. The TLP had announced head money on CJP if he would not reverse his ruling.  The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Chairman Allama Raghib Hussain Naeemi told the media that a religious party sent over 400 threatening messages to Justice Qazi Faez Isa in the Mubarak Sani case. The terrified Naeemi did not dare to mention TLP. NewsDesk.
  

• August 28, 2024: The family and the Baloch activists reported the disappearances of the journalist Hayat Khan Khetran, affiliated with a private Hum News channel, and the members of the Barkhan Youth Council, Hayat Shah Baloch and Asif Baloch. Family and the Baloch activists alleged the authorities for the disappearances. NewsDesk
  

• August 22, 2024: The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing arrested anchor Orya Maqbool Jan from Lahore, the Punjab province. His lawyer informed the media that his arrest was linked to his social media posts on the Mubarak Sani case, spreading religious hatred, and the FIA had not provided him a copy of the police report. Mr. Jan, known for his conservative, misogynist, and homophobic views, is also a columnist, anchor, poet, playwright, and former civil servant. NewsDesk
  

• August 19, 2024: The police arrested journalists after a suicide incident in Kamoke, Gujranwala district in the Punjab province. A man identified as Ubaid ur Rehman self-immolated and later died in the hospital. His brother Moaz Rehman told the police that 'the journalists had persuaded his brother Ubaid to the self-immolation as a form of protest and would save him before a life-threatening situation. However, the journalists ran away, leaving Ubaid burning.' Ubaid had severe burns before the police arrived. Moaz accused journalists of abetment of suicide. Contrary to Moaz's claims, several video clips show Ubaid arguing and telling the police that he is waiting for the media teams before setting himself on fire. The police briefly detained a few journalists, yet a Christian journalist, Haroon Ilyas, affiliated with a private channel Hum News, remained behind bars under Section 302 (Crime punishable by death) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Journalist Ilyas's wife, Naila Haroon, told media that Ilyas was doing his job. The family and rights activists alleged that the police had not released Ilyas due to his faith, while the Muslim journalists were released immediately. NewsDesk
  

• July 31, 2024: Usman Khan, a Quetta-based journalist, said, "The police and plain-cloth raiders raided his house". The journalist covered the "Baloch Raji Muchi" (Baloch national gathering), organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). BYC leadership had also condemned the harassment meted out to Mr. Khan. Scroll down to the section TARGETING DISSENTS, RIGHTS MOVEMENTS, ACTIVISTS, AND PROTESTERS for the details of BYC protests. NewsDesk 
  

• July 25, 2024: An illegal hydrant mafia attacked and assaulted an Express News team in Karachi on Thursday, also harassing anchor Sana Qadir. The incident occurred in Ayub Goth, Karachi, when the Express News programme "Grift" team arrived to expose the illegal hydrant. Upon seeing the team, mafia members became uncontrollable, taking the team hostage and assaulting them. They also harassed and threatened female anchor Sana Qadir. Qadir reported that the mafia members surrounded their vehicle and issued death threats. The programme's producer, Arsalan Farooqui, and other team members were taken hostage and assaulted. Qadir managed to save herself by locking the car from inside. She has called on Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and relevant authorities to take strict legal action against those responsible for the violence and to bring the culprits to justice. 

• July 19, 2024: The police assaulted and injured protesters, including Irfan Sangi, a cameraman affiliated with Time News, and Bashir Mirjat, a reporter with Dharti TV, during a protest at Teen Talwar, Karachi.  Clashes between police and the protesters started when police attempted to sabotage the protest. The media crew was covering the protest for the recovery of a missing girl, Priya Kumari, who disappeared three years ago. The police informed the media that the four policemen had been suspended for attacking the journalists. Scroll down to TARGETING DISSENTS, RIGHTS MOVEMENTS, ACTIVISTS, AND PROTESTERS timeline for details on Priya Kumari’s case. NewsDesk 
  

• ​July 10, 2024: In a troubling incident of domestic abuse, private TV channel anchor Ayesha Jehanzeb has reportedly become the latest victim of grievous physical assault by her husband. The alleged assault left her severely bruised, media sources reported on Wednesday. According to the anchor, a domestic spat with her husband escalated, leading to the horrifying physical abuse. After undergoing a medical examination, Ayesha filed a case against Haris under charges of attempted murder. The police confirmed that Haris has been arrested and is currently under investigation. The upsetting report prompted a swift reaction from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who took notice of the assault on the popular TV host and ordered the police to take action against the accused. The chief minister has also sought a detailed report from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and directed that Ayesha be provided with the best possible medical care and security. "Women are my red line; violence against domestic or working women will not be tolerated," she asserted. Violence against women is a global phenomenon, and Pakistan is no exception. A report by the Asia and the Pacific Policy Society highlights that around 27% of women in Pakistan face violence at some point in their lives. The Sindh High Court recently observed that despite the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2013, the government had failed to implement the law effectively. tribune.com.pk
  

• July 01, 2024: Unidentified individuals kidnapped a journalist and the chairman of Sambrial Press Club, Rana Shahid Mahmood, from a café in Sambrial, a city in Sialkot District in the Punjab province. The CCTV footage showed dozens of masked kidnappers wearing police uniforms. According to Faraz Shahid, the son of Shahid Mahmood, his father's kidnapping may have been the result of his investigative journalism about the local drug trade. August 07, 2024: The Lahore High Court (LHC) had ordered the police to present Shahid Mahmood in court on August 06, 2024, but the police failed to do so. The LHC again ordered the District Police Officer (DPO) Sialkot to provide the details of the kidnapping and the reasons for the police's failure to arrest or identify the kidnappers. NewsDesk 
  

• June 2024: Privately-owned Public News abruptly fired journalist Mian Mohsin Bilal without any explanation. It was alleged that his termination was linked to his questions with the ruling Punjab Assembly lawmaker, Hina Parvez Butt. However, we suggest media houses train their journalists in media ethics. His interaction with Ms. Butt was humiliating. In the past, Mr. Bilal has faced criticism over his misogynistic remarks and insulting posts targeting women.  UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, WE CONDEMN THIS PUNITIVE ACTION FROM THE PUBLIC NEWS AND URGE THE MEDIA HOUSE TO REVERT THE DECISION. NewsDesk
  

• June 2024: Religious fundamentalists, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) affiliates in particular, hacked her X account, trolled and targeted journalist Benazir Shah, affiliated with Geo network. Trolls targeted her with serious threats, obnoxious remarks, and unfounded allegations for her principled comments on the blasphemy cases in Pakistan and the safety of the Christian community in a TV show. Alongside Ms. Shah, fundamentalists also continued online attacks on the Geo network and other members of the team. NewsDesk  
  

• June 23, 2024: Farooq Afridi, a Bara-based journalist, told his colleagues at the local press club that he along two other reporters, Jahanzeb Afridi and Khadim Khan, was on his way to Jamrud on Friday to participate in a protest demonstration against the brutal murder of one of their senior Landi Kotal colleague. However, he said they were stopped at the checkpost despite showing their personal identity cards as journalists and registered members of the Bara Press Club. Farooq alleged that the armed staffers at the checkpost not only confiscated their CNICs but they also tried to snatch their mobile phones, which they resisted. He said that upon their refusal to surrender their mobile phones, they were made to wait on the main road for over an hour under the blazing sun.He said that he along with two other colleagues repeatedly pleaded with the security staff that they were journalists and wanted to not only participate in the protest demonstration but also to report the event to their respective media organisations.  Dawn.com  

• June 12, 2024: Lahore police arrested YouTuber and anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan from the airport before his departure to Saudi Arabia. Mr. Khan was wearing the religious costume worn to perform Haj, a mandatory condition in Islam. The police alleged him driving at high speed and damaging government property. June 14, 2024: A magistrate discharged him in both cases he was accused. Imran Riaz Khan rapidly rose to fame after his unflinching support to now dismantle Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on his YouTube channel. He cooperated and targeted the political opponents of PTI, including women journalists, and was boastful in his vlogs about the monetary benefits and privileges given to him by PTI in return for its support. After PTI’s fall, Mr. Khan has been a victim of enforced disappearance, intermittent arrests, and arbitrary police cases. Please check the timeline for the details. NewsDesk   
  

• May 30, 2024: Unidentified armed motorcyclists shot and injured Chaudhry Ikhlaq, affiliated with Daily Express and a member of the Bewal press club in Gujar Khan, the Punjab province. He was coming back to his hometown, Bewal when pillion riders shot him in the shoulder. He was taken to the hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Akhalq covers overseas Pakistani issues and has received threats following his story about a Pakistan national who left Pakistan. Motive: UNDETERMINED. NewsDesk 
  

• May 29, 2024: On May 29, Time News reporter Haider Mastoi and his cameraperson Khan Muhammad Pitafi were attacked by three armed motorcyclists in the Achhiyoon Qubbiyoon area of Rohri in Sindh province’s Sukkur district. The assailants, who intercepted Mastoi and Pitafi as they traveled by motorcycle, opened fire, shooting Mastoi four times in the right leg and once in the arm. Following the attack, Pitafi, with help from local residents, rushed Mastoi to Sukkur Civil Hospital. He was later transferred to Liaquat National Hospital in Karachi for further treatment. Mastoi is currently in a serious condition. On May 31, Pitafi told the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) that after finishing work, the duo was returning home on a motorcycle when they were intercepted by three armed individuals, also on motorcycles, approximately one kilometer from their residence. According to Pitafi, Mastoi quickly advised him to hand over their mobile phones and wallets to the assailants. However, after receiving the items, the attackers threw them aside and aggressively inquired about their castes. Following their responses, one of the attackers struck Pitafi with the butt of a pistol.The situation escalated as one of the assailants fired four shots at Mastoi, hitting him twice. Another attacker fired seven shots, with three striking Mastoi, resulting in his severe injuries.  Source and Full Story  

• May 28, 2024: KARACHI: The father of a journalist from one of Pakistan’s top television news networks said on Tuesday he was picked up from his home in Karachi city by plain-clothes and uniformed officials and his whereabouts were unknown while the family feared for his safety. The journalist, Hafiz Maaz Bin Khalid, works as a Digital Media Coordinator for ARY News. A video shared with media by the family showed officers taking Khalid away in a police van from Karachi’s Buffer Zone area early on Tuesday morning. “They arrived in three mobile vans and a double cabin, climbed over the wall, and took my son with them, claiming they were taking him for investigation to the Crime Investigation Agency center,” Khalil Ur Rehman, the journalist’s father, told Arab News, adding that officers, who were both in police uniform and plain clothes, did not produce warrants when asked. “They took him along with his national identity card and mobile phone. When I went to the CIA center, I was told my son was not brought there. I am unaware of his whereabouts,” the father added. Source and Full Story

• May 21, 2024: Unknown attackers attacked anchorperson Iqrar Ul Hasan's vehicles with batons, stones, and acid outside a private University in Gujranwala, the Punjab province. He is affiliated with the privately owned ARY News channel. The police have registered a case, and the investigation was underway. Mr. Hasan alleged that the attackers were sent by the spiritual healer, Haq Khateeb alias Shuf Shuf. Mr. Hasan alleged that some well-connected individuals shield the Khateeb hence, taking the Haq Khateeb case to the Bar Associations, Colleges, traders, and the people. On March 7, 2024, unidentified gunmen attacked the house of Iqrar ul Hassan in Defence, Lahore. After a break of 22 minutes, the attackers came back and again opened indiscriminate firing at the residence of the ARY News anchor. He filed a police report (commonly known as the first information report FIR), and the police reviewed the footage to identify the attackers. Mr. Hassan is the host of the TV show Sare-eAam, based on covert operations against individuals and companies who, Mr. Hassan thinks are involved in wrongdoings. Just days ago, Mr. Hassan did an undercover investigation of a spiritual healer, Haq Khateeb. According to Mr. Hassan, Khateeb did not know the basics of Islam. Scroll down to March 07, 2024, for web links. NewsDesk

• May 15, 2024: Unidentified masked persons abducted journalist and revolutionary poet Ahmad Farhad from his residence in Islamabad. He has been affiliated with different print and electronic media houses. The police refused to register a police report (commonly known as the first information report FIR) to his wife and denied Mr. Farhad custody. The police registered the case after a social media backlash. According to his social media platforms, Mr. Farhad had been the subject of constant threats for his reporting on Pakistani-controlled Kashmir rights movements. Acting on a petition filed by Mr. Farhad’s wife, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the police to produce Mr. Farhad in the court within 24 hours. The police responded to the court that the investigation was underway. Mr. Farhad was raising his voice through his poetry. He rose to fame after his poetry  "Use Uthalo" (pick him/her), criticizing the infamous, unabated Enforced Disappearances authorities and sympathy with the dismantled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Mr. Farhad's family believed the spy agencies were behind the alleged kidnapping. NewsDesk.  May 29, 2024: The DAWN reported that missing poet resurfaced in police custody. ISLAMABAD / MUZAFFARABAD: The government on Wednesday revealed the whereabouts of “missing” poet Ahmed Farhad Shah, informing the Islamabad High Court that he had been arrested by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir police and was being kept at the Dhirkot Police Station following the registration of an FIR. The poet’s family met him at a police station in Muzaf­farabad at around 9pm. The disclosure by the government before the court pushed the questions framed by the IHC about the functions of spy agencies into a grey area. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, while hearing the petition seeking the recovery of Mr Shah last week had framed 12 questions mostly related to the functions and obligations of spy agencies i.e. Inter-Services Intelli­gence, Military Intelligence and the Intelligence Bureau. June 04, 2024: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) rejected the bail to poet Farhad in AJK. June 10, 2024: Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared poet Farhad a victim of an “enforced disappearance/missing person” till he reaches his home safely. June 14, 2024: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) High Court granted him bail.   
  

• May 08, 2024: The atmosphere turned tense outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Wednesday as associates of firebrand PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat reacted aggressively to a journalist's probing question during Marwat's media address. The incident unfolded when a journalist confronted Marwat with a question regarding alleged attempts to secure the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by ‘begging’ to PML-N leader Khawaja Asif and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Marwat, visibly agitated, interrupted the journalist, demanding proper language usage and ultimately prohibited further questioning. "You are a beggar… I curse a journalist who uses foul language, you will not be allowed to question me in the future," Marwat retorted. Source and Full Story

• May 01, 22024: On May 11, while covering the protests on Eidgah Road in Muzaffarabad, Ayaz sustained a hand injury after being struck by a glass bottle. Ayaz, wearing a bulletproof vest, was mistaken for a police officer by the protesters. According to the TV Journalists Union of Kashmir President Asif Raza Mir, the misunderstanding led to the attack, but some individuals intervened to prevent further harm. Ayaz received first aid for his injuries and has since recovered.Source and Full Story
  

• April 17, 2024: Women Press Freedom unequivocally condemns the doxxing and subsequent threats directed at Nadia Saboohi, a seasoned journalist of Geo News in Pakistan. This egregious incident occurred following Saboohi’s professional reporting on issues concerning the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, a task she undertook with the utmost diligence and adherence to journalistic standards. The aftermath, which saw her inundated with calls, threats, and vulgar content, is a glaring example of the risks journalists face, particularly in regions hostile to free press and women's visible roles in media. Women Press Freedom calls for an immediate investigation into this matter and for those responsible for both the doxxing and the threats to be held accountable. We also demand the implementation of stronger protective measures for journalists, including legal remedies against doxxing, enhanced security protocols, and a public reaffirmation of the government's commitment to upholding press freedom. It is crucial that journalists like Saboohi, who bravely report on sensitive issues, are assured that their safety is a priority and that they are not left vulnerable to such vicious attacks. Source & Full Story
  

• April 09, 2024: Unidentified men briefly kidnapped and tortured journalist Malik Waseem, affiliated with Urdu Point (Urdu-language web portal of Pakistan) in Gojra, the Punjab province. Opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) alleged local police and political rivals Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) tortured the journalist for a live telecast of PTI lawmaker Usama Hamza's press conference. Edited  Source  
  

• April 05, 2024: Police booked You tuber Khalid and cameraman Ali Ahmad under the infamous Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 – 18/ 3 / 155C in Tobatek Singh, the Punjab province. The police alleged Khalid and Ali Ahmad illegally interviewed two under-trial suspects outside the police station without permission and released it on social media. Source 
  

• April 3, 2024: Three unidentified armed men riding a motorcycle attacked and injured a freelance journalist Ahmad Hanayesh, affiliated with RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, Dunya, and Kahkisha radio in Islamabad, Pakistan. The attackers fired multiple bullets at Mr. Hanayesh while on his way back home to the G-6 Embassy Road area. The doctors performed surgery to remove two bullets from his leg. Hanayesh injuries were not life-threatening. Islamabad is a heavily guarded area but notorious for the safety of journalists. Mr. Hanayesh is an Afghan citizen, a member of the Pak-Afghan Journalists Union, working in Pakistan for a long time as a freelancer. The police investigation is underway. NewsDesk. Motive: UNDETERMINED
  

• Mar 28, 2024: The federal cabinet has given its nod to include the names of 24 individuals in the Exit Control List (ECL), as per a summary circulated through the cabinet by the Interior Ministry. Among the notable names approved for inclusion in the ECL are journalists Sami Ibrahim and Imran Riaz Khan. Both individuals have been recommended for inclusion in the ECL due to ongoing inquiries against them.  Source and Full Story

• March 25, 2024: RAWALPINDI - Senior journalist and crime re­porter for The Nation, Israr Ahmed Rajput, was arrested yes­terday by the Pirwadhai Police on charges related to a tweet post­ed on social media. Before his ar­rest, Rajput stated that the police had filed a case against him. He mentioned that he not only deleted the tweet with­in thirty to forty minutes of its uploading but also apologized to the Rawalpindi Police on Twitter. De­spite this, a case was registered against him, he ex­plained. Rajput further mentioned that before the case, he had received a friendly call from the CPO’s PRO and the SHO of Pirwadhai, stating that the vid­eo was fake, which he had already deleted. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Rawalpindi Police stated in a press release that Rajput was arrested for spreading false rumours of a sensi­tive religious nature on social media. He said that the Pirwadhai Police have start­ed an investigation based on merit. They noted that false news was spread on Twitter the previ­ous night, even though no such incident had oc­curred, causing fear and distress in the communi­ty and hurting the sentiments of religious groups. The Rawalpindi Police value the journalistic com­munity highly but emphasize the importance of responsible reporting. Previously, the police had filed a case under Section 153 A.  Source  Next day, Judge Dr Mumtaz Hanjra dismissed the case and released Mr. Rajput. The judge ruled that the police report (commonly known as the first information report - FIR) was not filed per law. 
  

• March 7, 2024: Unidentified gunmen attacked the house of Iqrar ul Hassan in Defence, Lahore. After a break of 22 minutes, the attackers came back and again opened indiscriminate firing at the residence of the ARY News anchor. He filed a police report (commonly known as the first information report FIR), and the police reviewed the footage to identify the attackers. Mr. Hassan is the host of the TV show Sare-eAam, based on covert operations against individuals and companies who, Mr. Hassan thinks are involved in wrongdoings. Just days ago, Mr. Hassan did an undercover investigation of a spiritual healer, Haq Khateeb. According to Mr. Hassan, Khateeb did not know the basics of Islam. 
  

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• March 3, 2024: Journalist Waqar Aslam, affiliated with the Geo News Urdu, reported the harassment by police for sporting a Shawl (a square or oblong fabric garment or wrapper used as a covering for the head or shoulders for a cultural reason and as a protection against cold). The police saw Shawl as a security threat. He said the journalists waited hours for the Chief Minister of Balochistan to start the presser at Gawader. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Zuhaib Mohsin Gawader assaulted and pushed Geo News cameraman Zubair for using his cell phone to do his job." Edited​
  

• February 24, 2024: The Cyber Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) summoned YouTuber Asad Ali Toor, under Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), Enquiry Number 101/2024, over his alleged social media activism to slander the judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. A joint Action Committee is investigating the allegations. February 26, 2024: Mr. Toor complied with the orders and reached the FIA office. First, The FIA separated him from his attorney, Imaan Hazir Mazari, and then arrested him under Sections 9, 10, and 24 of the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act (PECA), 2016. The FIA report alleged that Mr. Toor “built a false narrative and started malicious/obnoxious and explicit campaign intentionally and publically against the modesty of civil servants/ government officials and state institutions of Pakistan as well as glorifying anti-state activities through his social media accounts.”    NewsDesk  March 16, 2024: An Islamabad trial court granted bail to Mr. Toor. May 06, 2024: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) vindicated Mr. Toor. ​
  

• February 23, 2024: A court in Lahore sent Imran Riaz Khan, a YouTuber and anchor, to jail on judicial remand. The provincial Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) had alleged Mr. Khan and his father for obtaining the Tharabi Lake contract at a notably reduced price of Rs. four Million against a market value of Rs. 11 million. An anti-corruption court ordered the ACE to inform the details of Khan’s arrest to the court. YouTuber Khan is a staunch supporter of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan and enjoyed great benefits during the Imran Khan government. Imran Riaz was allegedly remained in police custody for over four months and barred from leaving Pakistan in 2023. March 01, 2024: The court granted Imran Riaz Khan bail in the alleged contract for Dharabi Lake in Chakwal. However, the police arrested him on terrorism charges and took him into custody on a five-day physical remand. The terrorism charges stemmed from a police report (commonly known as the first information report FIR) containing allegations of arson, stone-pelting, throwing petrol bombs, and intervening in state matters outside the residence of PTI founder Imran Khan in Zaman Park, Lahore, on March 13, 2023. Mr. Khan denied the charges and maintained he was covering the riots for Bol TV. NewsDesk.  
  

• February 16, 2024: RAWALPINDI: A police official was suspended and charged after he was found guilty of torturing journalists during PTI’s protest in front of the Divisional Election Commission Rawalpindi on Sunday. After the incident came to light, Regional Police Officer Syed Khurram Ali and City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani ordered an inquiry into the incident and appointed SP Rawalpindi Faisal Saleem as inquiry officer. Following an inquiry conducted by SP Saleem, it was found that Yasir Khan, constable posted at Police Station Pirwadhai, displayed extreme arrogant behaviour and flouted the orders of his seniors regarding dispersing the protesters, which amounts to gross misconduct and inefficiency. Source & Full Story 
  

• February 2024: Political activists affiliated with Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) targeted journalists Gharida Farooqi, Saddia Mazhar, and acclaimed Digital Rights activist and member of the UNSG AI Advisory Body, Nighat Dad, with obnoxious trolls, threats and character assassination threads on social media for doing their job. NewsDesk.
  

• ​February 7, 2024: Shaista Shahzad, wife of Salman Mirza, affiliated with the privately-owned channel Bol News, informed about the arrest of Mr. Mirza. In a video statement, she said, “Around 3 a.m. on the night of February 6, 2024, (February 7) police and plainclothes individuals rang the bell and told they had come to take Salman. They asked for Salman’s cell phone but did not allow him in the house to pick up the phone. Instead, they asked him to tell his wife to hand you the phone. The police did not give the reason for Salman’s arrest or a chance to talk to his family. The next day, Shaista Shahzad went to the police station to file a police report (commonly known as the first information report FIR). However, the police refused to register the FIR and denied the information on the whereabouts of Mr. Mirza. After repeated requests from Mrs. Mirza, the police asked her to write an application. Mrs. Mirza did so, but the police did not give her the receipt of the application as they had promised. The police said, we have no order from SHO (Station House Officer, in in-charge of the police station) to give you the receiving of your application.” She gave her statement 48 hours after Mr. Mirza’s arrest and termed the incident Enforced Disappearance. ​A social media post that announced the protest for the recovery of Salman Mirza, his date of alleged abduction was reported as February 5, 2024. February 20, 2024: Anchor Salman Mirza returned home. He did not share details and the supposed motive of his abduction.

• February 6, 2024: On January 25, PNN reporter Noroz Rana was assaulted by supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) political party during a rally in Vehari, Punjab. Rana told PPF that he was interviewing attendees for their opinions while covering the rally in Vehari. Some younger participants expressed support for another party, Pakistan Tehreek Insaf, prompting Rana to ask them why they were attending a PML-N event. This led to a confrontation when a PML-N supporter accused Rana of trying to discredit the rally and incite violence against him. Two individuals, purportedly supporters of the party, verbally assaulted Rana, slapped him, and destroyed his camera. They also attacked him with his microphone, targeting his eye. Rana noted that the incident occurred towards the rally’s conclusion when many reporters had left. He reported the incident to his organization and filed a complaint with the Vehari District Police Officer (DPO). Adnan Tariq, the Public Relations Officer to the DPO, told PPF that officers are currently preoccupied with election duties, the DPO is aware of Rana’s situation and will take appropriate action following the elections. In another incident, on January 30, at a political gathering in Lahore, the Talon News team, including reporter Hanooq, driver Hammad, and cameraperson Farooq, faced violence at the hands of PML-N supporters. Source & Full Story
  

• January 25, 2024: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) cybercrime branch sent notices to the court reporters, YouTubers, and journalists criticizing the Court’s ruling that deprived Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of their signature “cricket bat” election symbol. The FIA targeted 519 individuals, at least 115 inquiries have been registered, and 65 notices served over allegations of Explicit and malicious campaigns against Hon judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on social media. Court reporter Mati Ullah Jan and YouTuber Asad Ali Toor are among those who received the FIA notices. Later, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa used suo motu powers against the FIA list including 47 journalists and YouTubers. and ordered the FIA to withdraw the notices against journalists. On January 17, 2024, the caretaker government formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to find the sources behind a malicious social media campaign against SC judges after the court ruling that stripped PTI from the bat election symbol. NewsDesk.
  

• January 25, 2024: Workers of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Thursday attacked a team of Naya Daur during a reporting assignment in Bilawal Bhutto's constituency of NA-127 in Lahore. They roughed up Naya Daur's team and destroyed camera equipment while illegally confiscating the media storage drive in the camera. The incident took place on Ghazi Road in Lahore on Thursday afternoon. The area falls within the remits of NA-127, where PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is contesting elections. Source & Full Story. 
  

• ​January 14, 2024: Unidentified pillion riders shot and injured Shoaib Burney, the bureau chief of the privately-owned Sunu TV channel, in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Karachi. Mr. Burney was taken to the hospital and treated for the bullet injury in his left hand. His injuries were not life-threatening. The police registered a case under Section 324 (attempted murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code. Motive: Undetermined. NewsDesk. 
  

TARGETING DISSENTS, RIGHTS MOVEMENTS,  ACTIVISTS AND PROTESTERS

• October 8, 2024: Authorities at the Karachi Airport barred a Baloch activist and leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), Mahrang Baloch, from flying to New York to attend the Time Magazine gala. Her name was among the Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential Emerging Leaders of the Year. Mahrang took to social media and informed her followers about the restrictions. She alleged the government prevented her from “exercising my freedom of expression, movement rights and a clear violation of my fundamental right to freedom of movement.” She also alleged the authorities to keep her detained at the airport for five hours. The immigration authorities gave no reason for travel restriction on Mahrang Baloch. NewsDesk
  

• October 6, 2024: Pakistan banned the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) under Section 11B of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. The Ministry of Interior justified the ban for “peace and security of the country and listed the PTM as a proscribed organization.” Pakistan banned the party after increased terrorist attacks, alleged collusion with Afghan Taliban and PTM, participation of PTM activists in the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Rallies, and the presence of the Afghanistan flags in PTM rallies. PTM leadership, including Ali Wazir and members, have been intermittently arrested, charged, and barred from entering some areas in Pakistan over the years. NewsDesk  PTM claims the representation of the rights of those affected by the war against militancy and what PTM believes oppressions of the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in the tribal areas.
  

• October 5, 2024: Opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership and activists clashed with security agencies in the heavily guarded twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The PTI had scheduled a public gathering at the D-Chowk (intersection) on October 4, while the government had imposed Section 144 (banning public gatherings of four or more people) and blocked the roads to keep the unruly, violent and armed with iron rods and batons PTI mob in check. The PTI supporters faced off with the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and poured into the twin cities. PTI and the LEAs clashed in many locations, but the worst fight broke when the PTI attempted to breach the Red Zone, an area with the Parliament House, the Supreme Court, and other high-profile buildings. The police maximized the security at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, where former Prime Minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan had been incarcerated under multiple charges ranging from underpayment of foreign gifts, sedition, terrorism, and incitement of violence. The administration had jammed mobile phones, suspended the internet, disrupted social media and the Metro Bus Services, and closed the businesses to contain the destruction and fatalities. The Islamabad police arrested Imran Khan’s sisters, Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, and hundreds of other PTI supporters. The police booked PTI founder Imran Khan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, PTI leader Azam Swati, and others for the murder of a policeman, Abdul Hamid Shah. The police said Hamid Shah was taken to the hospital after being injured in clashes with the PTI supporters and later died of his injuries. The PTI chairman, Imran Khan, faces multiple charges, including sedition, terrorism, and attempted murder, for inciting violence from jail and allegedly exploiting jail facilities to propagate violence. The mob stones injured at least five police officers. The police fired tear gas while the PTI supporters put tires and garbage on fire and destroyed the pricey government and public property, including buildings, vehicles, and businesses. The preliminary estimates reported Rs240 million damages to the government and public property during the PTI protest. The timing of the PTI protests raised several questions; the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was in Islamabad, the high-ranking Saudi delegation was due within days, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) 2024 Summit was planned within days. The 2014 PTI dharna (sit-in) delayed the start of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the cancellation of the Chinese president’s visit. The power shows of the political and religious parties in Pakistan deprived people of their rights of freedom of movement, closure of businesses and schools, cancellations of the exams, damages, and destruction worth massive amounts and frightening situations. In 2014, Imran Khan's Sit-in (Dharna) lasted 126 days and paralyzed the life in Islamabad. It interfered with the public’s freedom of movement, raised environmental concerns, jeopardized national security, and damaged public and private property. During Dharna, Imran Khan supporters armed with knives, chains, batons, and cutting tools attacked the Parliament House and almost seized the capital for over two weeks. At least five people died, and more than 500 were injured in the attack. PTI supporters tortured, briefly kidnapped, and thrashed the members of the law enforcement agencies. Dharna proved a fatal blow to the thriving economy, and the financial meltdown continues to date. NewsDesk

• October 3, 2024: The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) reported the arrests of its leaders including Sherzadeh Maseed Alamzeb Mahsud, and over a dozen workers booked under terrorism charges across Pakistan under section 11 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. One PTM key leader, Ali Wazir, is already in jail under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). The PTM alleged the provincial Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) police and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its KPK Chief Minister for beating PTM activists, using excessive force, destroying their camps and equipment before a significant Jirga (public gathering) scheduled on October 11, 2024. The Jirga, held in Mir Ali on September 27, was also marred by violence and arson. In the middle of the controversial KPK police crackdown, a letter dated October 2, 2024, No. SO (Sec-II)HD/L&O/2024, addressed to the KPK provincial police officers from the Federal Ministry of Interior, asking for action against PTM for incitement and hatred against the State and institutions, surfaced on social media, indicating the Interior Ministry's alleged involvement. The provincial KPK Home Department had written to the KPK police chief to follow the instructions in the Federal Home Ministry letter. The police did not clarify or authenticate the orders or alleged letter till filing this report. It's an unfolding story. NewsDesk  Talibans have killed several of his family members and destroyed his properties for his resistance against their atrocities. 

• October 1, 2024: The Punjab government on Tuesday took notice as the police clashed with visually impaired protesters at Lahore’s Mall Road. Talking to Dawn.com, Abdul Shakoor, a protester, said that people with disabilities had been holding demonstrations in the city for the last nine days, demanding the government revoke a ban imposed on job quotas for the disabled. He said that on Tuesday, 40 people were injured in clashes with the police as demonstrators tried to approach the Chief Minister’s House, adding that they were admitted to Lahore’s Services Hospital and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Shakoor alleged that the police baton-charged the protesters and that 600-700 demonstrators were now encamped outside the CM House. He further claimed that there were 7,000 vacant seats for disabled persons in 40 government departments, adding that despite only 1,500 people demanding jobs, their requests were still not being considered. More Details www.dawn.com

• September 22, 2024: The Rawalpindi deputy commissioner extended the detention of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader Ali Wazir for 15 more days. Mr. Wazir had been detained under Section 3(1) of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance. Authorities have intermittently banned him from going abroad, visiting certain areas within Pakistan, and arrested and booked him under terrorism and sedition charges over the years. August 02, 2024: The Police arrested Pashtun nationalist leader Ali Wazir from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences- PIMS, Islamabad. The police did not provide the reason for his arrest. Later, PTM leaders claimed that a racing motorcycle hit Ali Wazir's car. Ali Wazir took him to the PIMS for treatment. The police arrested Ali Wazir and later booked him with the charges of smuggling, attacking, and firing at the police, and hitting the motorcyclist. On February 14, 2023, authorities released lawmaker Ali Wazir after 26 months of incarceration for his struggle for Pashtun rights. Ali Wazir is affiliated with the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM).  NewsDesk

• September 2024: Unidentified abductors abducted Pakistani member of the Parliament Saadullah Baloch, affiliated with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), his wife, and daughter. His wife and daughter were abducted from home and returned after a few days, but Mr. Baloch remained untraceable. The opposition leader in the parliament, Omar Ayub Khan, and the PTI alleged authorities for the abduction pressured him in favor of a ghost resolution for constitutional courts. The PTI accused the ruling Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) that the resolution would extend the tenure of the Supreme Court Chief Justice Justice Qazi Faez Isa and other bureaucrats and what the PTI believed inclined to the PML-N. The government held futile marathon sessions of the National Assembly (NA) for the resolutions to pass during late nights and over the weekend, and finally, the resolution was deferred. The government did not provide the transcript of the resolution to the members of the parliament.  NewsDesk  
  

• September 9, 2024: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed police arrested at least 11 of its members of the national assembly (MNA) and leaders from Islamabad and the Parliament House, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur disappeared for hours. The police arrests ensued from the fiery speeches, insulting, threats, and abusing the institutions, and not finishing the event within the time granted by the local administration at Sangjani, a public gathering in Islamabad on September 8, 2024. The police arrested PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, Sher Afzal Marwat, Waziristan MNA Zubair Khan, Shoaib Shaheen, Chief Whip in NA Malik Amir Dogar, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Bannu lawmaker Nasim Ali Shah, Zain Qureshi, Ahmed Chattha, Awais Haider Jakhar, Syed Shah Ahad Ali Shah, Yousuf Khattak, Zubair Khan and Latif Chitrali. Authorities released Chairman Gohar Khan shortly after his arrest. PTI leaders Zartaj Gul, Omar Ayub, and Seemabia Tahir avoided the arrests by staying in the parliament. The Noon police station in Islamabad registered cases against 60 – 70 individuals while PTI Islamabad president Aamer Mughal, MNA Zubair, and Shaheen were booked for terrorism over allegations of “attacking and injuring policemen.” It solicits sections 324 (Attempt to murder determining factors), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of his public functions), 341 (wrongfully restrains any person), 440 (Mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt), 395 (dacoity), 148 (Whoever is guilty of rioting, being armed with a deadly weapon or with anything which, used as a weapon of offense, is likely to cause death), 109 (Punishment of abetment if the Act abetted committed in consequence and where no express provision made for its punishment) and the newly promulgated Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, of 2024. The police alleged in the police report known as the First Information Report (FIR) that Zubair was leading 60- 70 people carrying the PTI flag and armed with canes, sharp stones, and iron rods, blocking the Tarnol Bridge. The mob members told police that they were acting upon the orders of Shaheen and Mughal. The police alleged that the mob attacked them with canes and stones, injuring six policemen, snatching anti-riot gear from police, and damaging a government vehicle. The police spent over 80 million and used 470 containers to deal with between 8,000 and 11,000 PTI activists in the public gathering in this cash-trapped country. The police alleged the PTI workers violated the route permit and were forced into the red zone to reach the Parliament House and the Supreme Court building on Constitution Avenue in a security breach. Over a week later, the arrested PTI lawmakers attended the National Assembly following the issuance of the production orders by the National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. NewsDesk 
  

• September 08, 2024: The police booked a man Zulfiqar Ali Butt, for insulting language against President Asif Ali Zardari in Hafizabad, the Punjab province. The secretary general of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muhammad Arshad Mahand, alleged that Butt insulted Zardari on his birthday. He hit a PPP worker with a pistol grip. The case was registered after 44 days. Zardari was born on July 26, 1955. NewsDesk 
  

• September 8, 2024: Former member of the National Assembly from North Waziristan, Central Chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), and the former chairman of the foreign affairs committee, Mohsin Dawar, used his X account to narrate the deteriorating law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. He wrote “ PTM Lakki Marwat coordinator Naveed ullah and his brother Safiullah, a policeman, were martyred in a targeted attack yesterday. Malak Jameel was attacked in Wana today. His son Shamsudin was martyred in the attack. Terrorists have taken over Pakhtunkhwa." Mohsin Dawar is also the co-founder of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM. PTM claims the representation of the rights of those affected by the war against militancy and what PTM believes oppressions of the authorities in the tribal areas. NewsDesk

• September 8, 2024: Sammi Deen Baluch, a Human Rights Award laureate and Baloch rights activist stopped at the Karachi Airport from going abroad. She used her X account to and said, “Today, the immigration officials at Karachi airport stopped me from flying abroad without providing any explanation for violating my fundamental right to liberty and freedom of movement. I was detained at immigration for over three hours, and my passport was confiscated. However, when I protested and went live on social media, my passport was returned to me. I was not given any documentation or reason for being stopped, which makes it difficult for me to challenge the order in a court of law. I was verbally informed that immigration was acting on written orders from the government of Balochistan. I appeal to international human rights bodies to raise their voices against this violation of rights.” Later, Sammi Deen filed a petition in the Sindh High Court (SHC) against her travel restrictions. The authorities are immensely cautious when dealing with Baloch activists. The ruthless terrorists have blended into the nationalist movements and used activists and civilians as human shields in Balochistan. TheBaloch separatists have waged a bloody war for a separate state. This year, on August 26, the 18th anniversary of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a former governor and chief minister of Balochistan, the terrorists carried out coordinated attacks in at least 11 districts of Balochistan and killed over 60 men of security agencies and civilians. The terrorists attempted to kill the people of non-Baloch ethnicity, Punjabis in particular. During the attacks, they brutally slaughtered 23 bus riders in Musakhel, Balochistan, after determining them as Punjabis. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the carnage. On September 29, 2024, the terrorists killed seven Punjabi construction workers in the neighborhood of Muhalla Abdul Rehman in the Khuda-i-Abadan area of Panjgur, Balochistan. The owner of the under-construction building had brought them from Multan, the Punjab province, for construction. The terrorists killed the laborers out of ethnic hate.  Same day, The News, reported the abduction of more than 20 labourers ‘Hours after the deadly attack, more than 20 labourers were "abducted" by armed men in Musakhel, police said on Sunday.As per the police, gunmen opened fire on the camp of the labourers working for a gas company, set ablaze eight bulldozers and took away over 20 labourers with them.’ On May 09, 2024, the terrorists killed seven Punjabi barber shop workers in Gwadar Fish Harbour’s Surbandar area, Balochistan – All the victims belonged to the district Khanewal in Punjab. Within two years, the terrorist groups have killed over 41 innocent and impoverished civilians from Southern Punjab in Balochistan. The abject poverty has forced the people in south Punjab to migrate to the other provinces to make ends meet. The provincial government of Balochistan is erecting a fence around the 24 square kilometers of Gwadar city, which has an estimated cost of $ 60 billion, with hundreds of surveillance cameras and foolproof security. The Reason behind fencing is to protect the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) from the Baloch separatists. The Baloch alleged the provincial government of Balochistan is not doing justice to locals in CPEC by not providing jobs in the projects, depriving them of their livelihoods of fishing, and displacing them from their ancestral lands. China is one of Pakistan’s saviors from economic meltdowns, defaults, military needs, and hostile attacks. However, the Baloch separatists, supported by the big Baloch landlords and foreign elements used suicide bombers to kill Chinese citizens and Pakistani forces in intermittent attacks. The terrorists have killed hundreds of Chinese citizens and professional and Pakistani force members on duty to protect the Chinese citizens. In March 2024, the terrorists killed five Chinese engineers and their driver in Besham; The Baloch Liberation Army suicide wing, Majeed Brigade, tried to attack Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) and Pakistan's second largest naval airbase, PNS Siddique, in Balochistan. The security forces thwarted both attacks. The terrorist attacks in Dasu, Tarbela, and several other places in Pakistan over the years have killed dozens of people. In April 2022, a suicide bomber killed three Chinese tutors and a Pakistani driver in a suicide bombing near Karachi University's Confucius Institute. The separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed the attack. There have been 514 incidents of terrorist-related killings in Pakistan from January 2024 to September 10, 2024. The terrorists targeted 377 civilians and 402 security personnel, while 487 terrorists were killed, and the security forces thwarted at least five major terrorist attacks, which would otherwise kill dozens of people. NewsDesk  
  

• August 22, 2024: The provincial government of Balochistan banned the Chairman of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), Manzoor Ahmed Pashteen, from entering the Balochistan province for 90 days. The letter NO.SO(Judl:)8(31)/2024/5676-91 referred to subsection (5)(1)(a) and (c) of the Balochistan Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960 for the ban. Over the years, authorities have arrested, banned him from national and international travel, and booked Mr. Pashteen on several charges, including sedition. NewsDesk  FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
  

• August 20, 2024: The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing sent notices, Enquiry No 107, 2024, to the individuals in Gilgit Baltistan (GB) over anti-state material allegation in the pursuance of Cyber Terrorism and Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. However, the Writer, Blogger, Political & Social Activist of Gilgit Baltistan Awami Workers Party (GBAWP), Sher Nadir Shahi, claimed that 22 notices were issued to the individuals who raised their voices for the fundamental rights of GB and called the notices cruelty. NewsDesk 
  

• August 12, 2024: Affiliates and loyalists of the London-based Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM-L), led by Altaf Hussain, reported the death of their activist Naeem Akhtar, in jail. On March 22, 2019, the paramilitary forces arrested Naeem Ahtar alias Naeem Patti and allegedly framed him in fake cases. The MQM alleged that the law enforcement agencies (LAEs) severely tortured him during his incarceration, which made him sick. Contrary to the law, the jail management refused to provide him with healthcare facilities. On July 23, 2024, a terrorism court number judge, Amina Nazir Ansari, ordered the jail authorities to provide due medical care to Naeem. The MQM-L alleged the jail authorities did not follow the judge's order. The non-provision of medical care made him deteriorate, and he died. His wife, Erum Hanif, had been an active member of the MQM-L women's wing, Malir Sector. MQM-L has called Naeem's death extrajudicial killing, demanded a judicial inquiry, and appealed to international human rights groups to raise their voice to prevent such incidents in the future. MQM founder Altaf Hussain remained the kingmaker for three decades, and his party, Muhajir Qumi Movement (MQM), ruled the largest city of Pakistan, Karachi; however, his party abused public support and profit from racketeering, extortion, and brutally killed party turncoats and opponents. He challenged the status quo and sent the middle class into the parliament; to control the broader population segments, he changed his party from the Muhajir Movement to the Muttahida (united) movement. During his heydays, political leaders like Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif sought Mr. Hussain's help to form the Federal Government and succeeded. Mr. Hussain now faces sedition charges and a media black-out in Pakistan. In 1992, the para-military forces attacked MQM, killed the activists in extra-judicial killings, thousands were thrown in jails, and offices bulldozed. According to MQM, more than 18,000 workers were killed extrajudicially. Mr. Hussain and his followers are the descendants of the migrants who immigrated to Pakistan in 1947 after the British retreat from India and Pakistan.  After 1992, LEAs operations, several MQM factions emerged in Pakistan, but failed to gaing likewise popularity of Altaf Hussain. The Sindh police documented over 3,000 encounters in Sindh in 2023. The encounters violate the Torture and Custodial Deaths, Prevention and Punishment Act 2022, and the Convention against Torture. NewsDesk 

• August 12, 2024: LARKANA: Management of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) has issued show-cause notices to leaders of the varsity’s teachers’ association and workers’ organisation over holding a demonstration on Tuesday (August 6) to demand timely release of their salaries. The notices were issued to the association’s President, Dr Abdul Hafeez Abro, General Secretary, Dr Imdad Ali Domki, Associate Professor Azhar Shah (elected member of the university’s syndicate from the Ghulam Mohammed Medical College, Sukkur, as well as leaders of protesting non-teaching employees. The demonstration was organised by the teachers’ association. Sources in the SMBBU told Dawn on Sunday that the notices were issued on the very next day (Aug 7) by the university’s Registrar Dr Safdar Shaikh with the approval of the competent authority (vice chancellor). Full Story www.dawn.com

• August 02, 2024: Police arrested Pashtun nationalist leader Ali Wazir from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences- PIMS, Islamabad. The police did not provide the reason for his arrest. Later, PTM leaders claimed that a racing motorcycle hit Ali Wazir's car. Ali Wazir took him to the PIMS for treatment. The police arrested Ali Wazir and later booked him with the charges of smuggling, attacking, and firing at the police, and hitting the motorcyclist. Authorities have intermittently banned him from going abroad, visiting certain areas within Pakistan, and arrested and booked him under terrorism and sedition charges over the years. On February 14, 2023, authorities released lawmaker Ali Wazir after 26 months of incarceration for his struggle for Pashtun rights. Ali Wazir is affiliated with the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM). PTM claims the representation of the rights of those affected by the war against militancy and what PTM believes oppressions of the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in the tribal areas. NewsDesk. September 04, 2024: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted bail to Mr. Wazir.
  

• July 31, 2024: The police thrashed and briefly detained 16 activists, including four women and leader Fauzia Baloch affiliated with Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), while disrupting their protest in front of the Karachi Press Club. The police alleged BYC for chanting anti-Pakistan slogans. The BYC denied the allegations. The DAWN fact-check found a video shared on social media showing the arrest of BYC leader Mahrang Baloch “by an X user, who appeared to be a PTI supporter,” is an old one from June 2020. On August 4, 2024, the LEAs raided the BYC camp outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC) and arrested over 40 activists, including women and children. The authorities claimed to release many of them and remanded 13 activists in police custody under sections 53-A, propagating hate and enmity between different groups, 505 and 34. The civil society members and the journalists not affiliated with BYC also protested in front of KPC and urged the authorities to stop atrocities against the Baloch community and BYC. It is an ongoing dispute, and our sources are working tirelessly to verify the facts. Scroll down for the details of BYC protests. NewsDesk  
  

• July 30, 2024: Assistant Director of Revenue at the water corporation, Mirza Ikhlaq Baig, who exposed one of the largest water theft operations in Karachi’s history, has been suspended from his position. According to Express News, he was removed after uncovering a scheme involving the theft of billions of rupees worth of water. Baig discovered over 100 illegal connections siphoning water from main supply lines in Karachi's SITE area. Despite threats and offers of bribes from the water mafia, he reported the findings to higher authorities and requested the disconnection of the illegal taps. His efforts led to over 40 threatening calls and serious repercussions. Baig’s exposure to illegal activities was met with internal resistance. Instead of receiving support, he faced suspension, allegedly due to pressure from the Anti-Theft Cell and the Engineering Department. 

• July 28, 2024: Fourteen people were injured, five of them with life-threatening injuries, in an armed clash between the security forces and the participants of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in Mastung, Balochistan province. The next day, BYC updated and said, "Two of its activists were killed and at least 20 injured in clashes." The BYC accused the security forces of the assault, while the local administration alleged BYC of attacking a security checkpoint near Mastung. According to the regional administration, the Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) had approached the rally for negotiation, but the armed protesters of BYC opened fire, injuring two LEAs and four people, near Mastung, the BYC activists were heading to Gwadar to attend a rally. The BYC also claimed the arrest of 300 activists. The administration imposed section 144, banning public gatherings of four or more people in the adjoining area, and blocked the highways to deter the BYC activists from proceeding to Gwadar. The BYC staged a sit-in to protest the occurrence, and Mastung, Sorab, Nokandi, Noshki, Kalat, Khuzdar, and Kharan areas were closed in solidarity with the BYC strike. The Baloch activists circulated the pictures of a man allegedly sent by the LEAs to assassinate its leader, Mahrang Baloch. The BYC claimed the abduction of its leaders Sammi Deen Baluch, a Human Rights Award laureate, Dr. Sabiha Baloch, and Sabgat Ullah, as the local administration refused their custody. The BYC has threatened to call for a country-wide strike. Some other nationalist parties joined BYC in protest. July 29, 2024: According to a military statement, a mob consisting of the activists of the so-called "Baloch Raji Muchi" (Baloch national gathering) attacked the forces, which resulted in the martyrdom of soldier Shabbir Baloch and injury to one officer and 15 soldiers; the forces displayed extreme tolerance to avoid civilians killings and injuries. Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti invited BYC for negotiations. BYC leader Mahrang Baloch presented the provincial Government of Balochistan with the terms of negotiations: 1- Stop using force and torture against the participants of Baloch Raji Muchi in Gwadar and all of Balochistan province. 2- Release all the Raji Muchi participants in Balochistan. 3- Clear all the highways and routes in Balochistan. 4- Stop raids on people's homes and harassment in Gwadar. 5- If the government harasses Raji Muchi activists or uses force in Gwadar or Balochistan, the negotiations will end. Though the Government claimed the release of the detainees, the implementation, and a signed agreement with the BYC, the sit-in continued. The BYC disputed the Government's claim and said the roads remained blocked in the Noshki area, and many of its activists were still in custody. Later, the BYC alleged the LEAs for killing its activist Hamden Baloch and injuring two more of its members. The injuries of Hikmat Ullah, were critical. On August 04, 2024, BYC leader Mahrang Baloch issued a statement on her verified X account about the baffled stalemate with the government, “A narrative is being presented by the rulers of this country that the Baloch Yekjehti Committee is responsible for the chaos and curfew-like situation. The controlled media is aiding them in constructing this narrative. However, we are peacefully sitting in one corner of Gwadar, demanding that state authorities fulfill our legitimate demands and create an environment for negotiations. The state authorities have shut down the internet since July 27 and closed all major highways connecting Gwadar to Karachi and the rest of the country. We have held several rounds of talks with government representatives and the district management of Gwadar. Despite this, as we sit to talk, hours after the paramilitary frontier corps and secret intelligence agencies arrest more of our colleagues, both within and outside Balochistan. The government appears intent on creating an alarming situation, which can potentially lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. We reiterate our call and urge the authorities to reopen the major highways restore internet and mobile services immediately and fulfill our other demands. We have been and will remain peaceful. It is up to the state to determine how they handle this situation.” August 09, 2024: www.dawn.com reported “The leadership of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has called off its sit-in in Gwadar and other areas of Balochistan, following a marathon round of talks with government officials that concluded late on Thursday night.” August 10, 2024: According to activist Sammi Deen Baloch, “Finally, after 13 days, the internet connection was restored. The city of Gwadar has been under a curfew-like situation since July 27, with cellular and road networks disabled. Scores of people were unlawfully detained, and some forcefully disappeared. As a result of live fire by law enforcement agencies, one protester was killed in Gwadar, and multiple others were injured. During this political gathering, the state unleashed every method of violence to deter peaceful protesters. At this moment, we and the residents of Gwadar were facing a dire situation, But still, we survived and remained determined to keep going. Thank you to everyone who has shown concern for our well-being. Long live peaceful resistance.”  August 12, 2024: Activist Sammi Deen Baloch reported the killing of 5-year-old girl Sitara Shabbir in Dandar Kech, Balochistan. It is an ongoing dispute, and our sources are working tirelessly to verify the facts. ​NewsDesk    
  

• July 26, 2024: The Jamat-e-Islami (JI) alleged the police arrested at least 1,150 for violating section 144 (section 144, banning public gatherings of four or more people) as they tried to enter the capital city Islamabad. The police defended 144 by saying that other opposition parties were also gathering in Islamabad amid increased risks of terrorism and law and order situation. The JI was protesting against skyrocketing utility bills. The police released the JI activists soon after. NewsDesk. 
  

• July 2024: The political opponents targeted the provisional minister for information, Punjab province, Azma Zahid Bukhari, by circulating a deepfake video in a malicious campaign for character assassination and nasty political gain. Ms. Bukhari is affiliated with the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N). The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has started an investigation, and social media platforms have removed the video. The PML-N accused the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of the video. NewsDesk
  

• July 25, 2024: The police briefly detained Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairman Asad Iqbal Butt from his residence in Federal B Area, Karachi, Sindh province. The police action ensued from the reports that Mr. Butt might be planning a rally with the Baloch Yakjehi Committee (BYC) against the unabated enforced disappearances of Baloch activists and civilians on July 28, 2024, in Gwadar. During his detention of three to four hours, the police at the Gulberg police station questioned the HRCP's involvement in the rally, participation, and his visit to Quetta (Balochistan province). He told police that he had visited Quetta seven years ago. BYC has reported an increase in abductions and disappearances of its workers ahead of the rally. Members of HRCP, civil society, and journalists have reached the police station after the news of Mr. Butt’s arrest. Baloch Yakjehi Committee (BYC) claims to struggle against the alleged enforced disappearances of the members of the Baloch communities, rights for Balochistan, and the due share in the resources and progress of Balochistan. NewsDesk

• July 2024: The police assaulted and booked dozens of Baloch activists, including Sammi Deen Bloch, for advocating Baloch Raji Machi. Among many charges, the police alleged the activists for anti-state activities. According to the Baloch activists, Raji Machi is a peaceful awareness campaign about the exploitation of natural resources and human rights violations in Balochistan. Sammi Deen Baloch's father, Dr. Deen Muhammad Baloch, disappeared on June 28, 2009, when she was only 11 years old. Since then, she has been raising her voice for the recovery of her father and the other missing persons in Balochistan. Ms. Baloch, family, friends, and other activists against the enforced disappearances alleged the security forces for the disappearance of Dr. Baloch. According to the eyewitnesses, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) raided his hospital, tortured, blindfolded, and threw him in the LEAs vehicle. That was the last time Dr. Baloch was seen. People remember him as an active member of the community and, a well-respected person.  NewsDesk
  

• July 19, 2024: The police stopped the opposition leader, Omar Ayub Khan, from attending the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting and briefly detained the venue hotel manager in Gujranwala, the Punjab province. The police action prompted a country-wide strike by the journalists. The protests, traffic disruptions, and condemnation forced the police to let Ayub Khan address the meeting. Other political party leaders also participated. Omar Ayub Khan is affiliated with the dismantled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). NewsDesk
  

• July 19, 2024: Karachi police assaulted protesters with batons demanding the recovery of a seven-year-old Hindu girl Priya Kumari, missing since August 19, 2021, from Sukkur, Sindh province. A large crowd of civil society members, the public, and the rights groups gathered at the upscale neighborhood in Clifton, Karachi. The police briefly detained some protesters over allegations of traffic interruption and inconvenience to the commuters. The Sindh Home Minister and the police have been issuing misleading statements about Kumari’s whereabouts since her disappearance. Priya Kumari disappeared while volunteering at a Muslim celebration during the Muslim month of Muharram. On July 20, 2024, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar met with the parents of Priya Kumari and the rights groups and again informed them that Priya Kumari was alive and had evidence to support his claim. He did not say what evidence was available and announced a reward of Rs10 million for the police team that would bring Kumari back. NewsDesk
  

• July 19, 2024: A peaceful protest turned violent after the gunshots, reported fatalities, and injuries in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. As many as 10,000 people started protesting the return, regrouping of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and random militancy in KP province for over a year. The protesters alleged the security forces for unprovoked assaults. The mainstream media confirmed one death, while independent sources claimed multiple fatalities. The KP government has formed a commission for fair investigation. In July 2024, TTP suicide bombers rammed an explosive-filled vehicle into a Pakistani military facility and killed eight soldiers. Pakistani forces killed all ten attackers in retaliation. In a separate attack, the TTP attacked a healthcare facility and killed five civilians in Bannu, KP. TTP commander Gul Bahadur claimed the attacks, but Pakistan refuted the claims. Pakistan and Taliban led the Afghan government at odds and engaged in several cross-border firing. On July 19, 2024, Pakistan claimed the capture of an al-Qaida leader, Amin ul Haq, and a close friend of Osama bin Laden from a small village near Jehlum, the Punjab province. Due to the same ethnicity, easy-to-infiltrate, and rugged terrain, It's difficult for the Pakistani forces to put foolproof security in place.  According to the South Asian Terrorism Portal (SATP), 621 people have been killed in 262 incidents of killings, including 136 civilians and 195 members of the security forces, 286 terrorists, and four unspecified individuals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province since January 2024. NewsDesk 
  

• July 18, 2024: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Sanam Javed incarceration illegal and granted her bail. However, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb curtailed her freedom of movement, restricted her from leaving Islamabad, and “ avoid unnecessary rhetoric.” The court threatened to revoke the order if Sanam Javed, mother of two, fails to comply. Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, a human rights lawyer, commented on the court orders, “Is this the job of a High Court judge? And under what section of the PPC is it a criminal offense to use “inappropriate language and profanities”? And is the supposed penalty for the same spending 14 months behind bars without a conviction.” NewsDesk
  

• July 2024: Dismantled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed that Rizwan Ahmed, a member of the PTI media team, and his brother Nouman Ahmed were abducted in Islamabad. The PTI alleged law enforcement agencies (LEAs) for abduction. The police arrested another PTI member, Amir Mughal, the President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), from outside the Deputy Commissioner's (DC) office in Islamabad. The police did not disclose the reason for the arrest. They were abducted and arrested before a public meeting of PTI, which was later canceled. PTI claimed thousands of its workers languishing in jails because of their affiliation with PTI. PTI founder Imran Khan has been in prison since August 2023. NewsDesk  
  

• July 11, 2024: The police assaulted Baloch protesters who were protesting against the alleged forced disappearance of Zaheer Ahmed in Quetta, Balochistan province. The police baton-charged, used tear gas, hustled the women protesters booked the protesters under multiple charges and briefly detained some protesters including Nasrullah Baloch, Chairman of the Voice for the Missing Baloch Persons (VBMP). Zaheer Ahmed disappeared on June 27, 2024. The family, friends, and the Baloch rights activists alleged the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) for alleged abduction. Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) has released a plaster cast picture of VBMP’s leader, Horain Baloch, and alleged the police for breaking her leg and hand in torture. The VBMP also alleged the police returned the seized mobile phones of the protesters, but Horain's phone was not given back to her.  The police have also booked  Mahrang Baloch, a Pakistani Baloch rights activist now affiliated with the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), and other Baloch protesters. NewsDesk
  

• June 25, 2024: An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad ordered on Tuesday the seizure of movable and immovable properties of YouTubers and journalists—including Adil Raja, Shaheen Sehbai, Moeed Pirzada, Sabir Shakir, Haider Mehdi, and Wajahat Saeed Khan—in the case of inciting violence and unrest. ATC judge Tahir Abbas Sipra directed the Islamabad deputy commissioner to confiscate the assets of the accused YouTubers, who have been declared proclaimed offenders, in the case. The court also ordered the National Database and Registration Authority chairman to block the accused persons’ national identity and National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis cards while directing the Federal Investigation Agency director general to block their passports. The court has sought a compliance report on the implementation of the orders within 15 days. The statements of the prosecution witnesses against the accused have also been recorded. This action comes amid an ongoing crackdown on individuals accused of spreading hate speech and inciting violence through digital platforms. Furthermore, the ATC has directed all the relevant departments to submit a compliance report on the implementation of its orders by July 10. It is notable that Adil Raja, Shaheen Sehbai, Moeed Pirzada, Sabir Shakir, Haider Mehdi, and Wajhat Saeed Khan are facing charges of incitement of violence and instigating people to resort to violence. aaj.tv

• June 21, 2024: Authorities arrested Yawar Abbas, an environmentalist and averse campaigner, against the land acquisition by the authorities in the scenic tourism region of Gilgit Baltistan (GB). Authorities kidnapped him after he started a social media campaign opposing the land ownership by the authorities. Mr. Abbas has been raising his voice against corruption and social injustice for years in GB. The police disclosed his arrest many hours later following a social media campaign calling him a victim of notorious enforced disappearances.  NewsDesk
  

• June 17, 2024: Authorities stopped pop singer Muhammad Ashraf, alias Malkoo, from departing Pakistan to the UK over the inclusion of his name in the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) list. The PNIN replaces the punitive Exit Control List (ECL), arbitrarily used by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to intimidate dissents and political opponents from going abroad. Malkoo's counsel, Azhar Siddique said, "his client name appeared on PNIL after he released two songs, Qaeedi 804 and Nak da Koka, on his YouTube channel praising former Prime Minister Imran Khan for supporting his election campaign in February 2024." PM Khan is in jail over multiple charges, including sedition. Malkoo’s show organizer, British-Pakistani businessman Liaqat Malik claimed he lost £200,000 because of Malkoo’s flying ban. In a surprising twist, Malkoo withdrew his petition seeking his name removal from ECL. Some social media influencers shared Malkoo’s song after his detention, contradicting the lyrics of his earlier songs in favor of PTI. In 2023, the police booked Malkoo on the charges of aerial firing in Lok Mela (folk festival) 2023. NewsDesk  
  

• June 09, 2024: Unidentified armed individuals abducted Ghulam Shabbir, the brother of Shahbaz Gill, a former spokesperson to the Government of Punjab, and former Special Assistant to the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. Shahbaz Gill, affiliated with the now dismantled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). However, his brother has no political affiliation. Shahbaz Gill lives in the United States. PTI and Gill alleged that law enforcement agencies (LEAs) abducted and intimidated the family and the other activists of PTI. The party claimed all the arrests and the police reports were politically motivated and denied any wrongdoings. NewsDesk 
  

• June 08, 2024: Authorities booked Shehryar Afridi, Shandana Gulzar, Haleem Adil Sheikh, and others with sedition charges, including Section 120-B (punishment for criminal conspiracy) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) over allegations of holding a rally without permission and inciting hate against the state. All the politicians affiliated with forced-dismantled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held the rally in Bostan, Balochistan province. Dozens of PTI leaders and workers, including PTI founder Imran Khan booked under Sedition charges after the May 9, 2023 attacks, which caused destruction and arson to national and military installations. Imran Khan and dozens of others have been incarcerated. Pakistani authorities have alleged and arbitrarily used Sedition charges to intimidate the dissents and strangulate the voice. NewsDesk 
  

• June 06, 2024: Dismantled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Azhar Mashwani holds the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) responsible for the alleged disappearance of his brothers Zahoor-ul-Hassan and Mazhar-ul-Hassan. Mashwani’s father, Qazi Habibur Rehman, had petitioned the Lahore High Court for their recovery. Mashwani claimed the alleged abductions were the punishment for his affiliation with PTI. His brothers were reported missing for almost a month. The police said that they were working on the case. Azhar Mashwani has served as the focal person on digital media for the Office of the former Prime Minister, now incarcerated, Imran Khan. In March 2023, Azhar Mashwani disappeared for eight days. He accused LEAs for his alleged abduction. His brothers have no political affiliations. NewsDesk. September 6, 2024: Azhar Mashwani announced the return of his brothers Zahoor-ul-Hassan and Mazhar-ul-Hassan on his X account. 
  

• June 06, 2024: Police booked Mahrang Baloch, a Pakistani Baloch rights activist now affiliated with the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), and at least 200 other Baloch activists for disrupting traffic and forcing entry into the Quetta Press Club in May 2024. Among other sections under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), Ms. Mahrang and other activists were also booked for sedition charges under Section 124-A over allegations of speaking against Pakistan and inciting hate against the state and the institutions. Ms. Baloch has been facing such charges since she started a campaign for the recovery of her missing father on December 12, 2009; her brother was abducted in December 2017 and released after three months. On May 18, 2024, the police and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) banned the Participants, journalists, students, and panelists from entering the Quetta Press Club and locked the doors. Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) organized a conference titled ‘Fencing Gwadar - From Mega Project to Mega Prison.’ The provincial government of Balochistan is erecting a fence around the 24 square kilometers of Gwadar city with an estimated cost of $ 60 billion, with hundreds of surveillance cameras and foolproof security. The Reason behind fencing is to protect the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) from the Baloch separatists. The Baloch alleged the provincial government of Balochistan is not doing justice to locals in CPEC by not providing jobs in the projects, depriving them of their livelihoods of fishing, and displacing them from their ancestral lands. China is one of Pakistan’s saviors from economic meltdowns, defaults, military needs, and hostile attacks. However, the Baloch separatists, supported by the big Baloch landlords and foreign elements used suicide bombers to kill Chinese citizens and Pakistani forces in intermittent attacks. The terrorists have killed hundreds of Chinese citizens and professional and Pakistani force members on duty to protect the Chinese citizens. In March 2024, the terrorists killed five Chinese engineers and their driver in Besham; The Baloch Liberation Army suicide wing, Majeed Brigade, tried to attack Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) and Pakistan's second largest naval airbase, PNS Siddique, in Balochistan. The security forces thwarted both attacks. The terrorist attacks in Dasu, Tarbela, and several other places in Pakistan over the years have killed dozens of people. In April 2022, a suicide bomber killed three Chinese tutors and a Pakistani driver in a suicide bombing near Karachi University's Confucius Institute. The separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed the attack. NewsDesk

• June 06, 2024: One civilian died, dozens injured, including security forces, and over 60 detained after the provocative arrests of the Chaman Sit-ins leaders. The protesters attacked the government property and installations and blocked highways to secure the release of their leaders. The demonstrations spilled into the other parts of the bordering towns across Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the suspension of business activities. The protesters, armed with stones and clubs, clashed with the police. The police used teargas and rubber bullets to counter the crowd. The government sources claimed that 17 law enforcement personnel were injured, while the independent sources claimed over a hundred civilians were injured. The local hospitals said that 13 people were treated for the injuries caused by the rubber bullets. The situation was brought under control after the local clerics and tribal leaders intervened. The affected area was partially cut off from the rest of the country due to interrupted media access and internet suspension. July 21, 2024: Pakistan lifted the travel ban and reinstated using Afghan Tazkira and Pakistan’s National Identity Card to cross the Durand Line to travel between Chaman and the Afghan town of Boldak. On May 15, 2024, the negotiations between the members of the Balochistan province government and the Laghari Ittehad—representing the daily wage earners and members of other political parties ended without any deal. In October 2023, Thousands of the residents of Chaman started protesting against the new rules of passports for crossing the border into Afghanistan. The residents have been asking the government of Pakistan to continue to accept the national identity and tribal cards for travel to meet families, and relatives and feed livestock. Chaman is a city and the headquarters of the Chaman District in Balochistan, Pakistan. Chaman is located in close proximity to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, and the residents and their families live on both sides of the border, in the mountainous terrain. Authorities briefly detained Maulana Hidayatur Rehman Baloch, the chief of Haq Do Tehreek (HDT), and banned him, Parliamentarian Mohsin Dawar, and activists of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) from entering Chaman to join the sit-in. On December 04, 2023: The police arrested Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen in Chaman, the Balochistan province. The police alleged that armed men from Mr. Pashteen vehicle started firing at the police; PTM and Mr. Pashteen vehemently denied the allegations and claimed otherwise. The police claimed four people were injured from the firing from Pashteen vehicle. Mr. Pashteen was going to Turbat to join the protest against extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Over the years, authorities have arrested, banned him from national and international travel, and booked Mr. Pashteen on several charges including sedition. December 5, 2023: The Sindh police arrested nine more individuals affiliated with the PTM for protesting the forced deportation of the Afghan refugees. NewsDesk

• May 21, 2024: An individual holding a sharp object (blade) attacked and cut part of the face of the columnist and dismantled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Rauf Hasan outside a TV channel office in Islamabad. Mr. Hasan was exiting the TV channel building after attending a TV show when an individual started arguing with Mr. Hasan and attacked him while the other accomplices tried to join the individual. The attackers escaped from the overcrowded crime scene. Mr. Rauf received a big cut on his face and was taken to hospital. His condition was stable. The incident was caught on camera, and the police were investigating the crime. NewsDesk 
  

• May 2024: People in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, also called Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) by Pakistan, thronged the streets against high taxes, electricity prices as per hydropower generation cost in AJKashmir, inflated utility bills, and the sudden rise in inflation and demanding subsidized wheat flour. The Awami Action Committee (AAC) called for the protests and kept the business closed and vehicles off-road. The situation turned violent when protesters clashed with the paramilitary forces. The violence erupted when security forces tried to stop a rally from entering the AJK capital, Muzaffarabad. The protesters brutally killed a police Sub-Inspector and chased, tortured, and pushed many Policemen from the hillocks. Protesters damaged vehicles and property and torched a magistrate's car. Three people died, and hundreds of protesters and Policemen were injured from tear gas and stone attacks. The lives were at a stand-still in Muzaffarabad, Bhimber, Bagh, Mirpur. The violent protesters blocked Poonch-Kotli Road and Kohala-Muzaffarabad Road. The government blocked the internet and mobile phone services to deter coordinated attacks. The police arrested dozens of protesters and booked them under multiple charges. The AAC denied its role in the violence. Some journalists and critics wanted the government to name the authorities who ordered paramilitary forces to stop the rally that resulted in the violence. Some independent and unconfirmed reports put the number of fatalities higher than the official figure of three, while the injured over two hundred. The government figure of the arrested protesters is 70. The government said it had signed an agreement with the action committee on February 4, 2024, and six out of ten demands have already been fulfilled, while the rest need legislation and Federal government action. The people of AJK pay only four taxes, while the rest of Pakistan pays ten kinds of taxes on electric bills. Some government Ministers alleged one of Pakistan's bordering countries and the nuclear rival was behind the attacks. Under extreme pressure from the protesters, the government of Pakistan announced Rs23 billion in subsidies for electricity and flour, which would bring wheat and power prices down. NewsDesk

• May 18, 2024: LAHORE: The civil society and family members of Pakistan Seraiki Party (PSP) former information secretary and Seraiki nationalist Abdul Sattar Thaheem are running a social media campaign for his safe return. Thaheem, who dedicated years to the PSP and its late founder, Barrister Taj Muhammad Khan Langah, disappeared under mysterious circumstances six months ago, leaving no trace behind. Thaheem was last seen at the residence of Rana Faraz Noon, the chairman of the Seraikistan Democratic Party (SDP), in Sabzazar Colony on Bosan Road, Multan. ​On Oct 11, 2023, he departed Noon’s house to visit a friend in Kabirwala and never returned. His continued absence has raised serious concerns among his friends and family who have tirelessly sought his whereabouts but in vain. Source and Full Story

• April 30, 2024: Unidentified armed men kidnapped Kamran Khan, a social media and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist, in Peshawar, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (KP). Kamran’s wife has filed a police report known as the First Information Report (FIR) with a local police station and approached the Peshawar High Court to speed up the safe recovery of her husband. PTI alleged the government agencies for kidnapping for criticizing the government, albeit PTI rules the KP province. NewsDesk

• April 30, 2024: LAHORE: As farmers from across the province thronged The Mall to record their protest against what they believe to be an unfair wheat procurement policy, a heavy contingent of Punjab police in anti-riot gear rounded up scores of their number, on Monday. The farmers had taken to the streets against an inordinate delay in the purchase of grain and the decision to reduce the provincial procurement quota from over 4 million tonnes to 2.3m tonnes. The protesters, led by Kissan Ittehad Pakistan, managed to assemble at the GPO Chowk on The Mall and attempted to march towards the Punjab Assembly, where a heavy contingent of police intercepted them. Police not only blocked the road by placing containers, but also arrested several protesters. Kissan Ittehad Pakistan General Secretary Mian Umair Masood, who led the demonstration, told Dawn that more than 250 farmers were arrested by police in Lahore. He, however, managed to evade arrest himself. Source and Full Story 
  

• April 20, 2024: Gujranwala (the province of Punjab) Police briefly detained Save Gaza Campaign Pakistan founder Humaira Tayyaba, her teenage son Umer, and dozens of other protesters for protesting in solidarity with Palestine and against the killings of innocent civilians. The police assaulted and misbehaved with protesters, including women and children. Humaira Tayyaba is affiliated with religious-cum-political party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and is the wife of Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, who was a Member of the Senate of Pakistan from March 2018 to March 2024. NewsDesk.
  

• April 15, 2024: the District Administration of Malezai Karez, Bazar Nau, and Pishin (Balochistan province) forced Afghan refugees to leave the area within 24 hours. The ultimatum was extended to Afghan citizens living in Pakistan for decades and holding Proof-of-Residence (PoR). NewsDesk. In September 2023: Pakistan started a discriminatory drive against the Afghan Nationals living with legitimate status in Pakistan and arrested thousands of Afghanis holding the refugee Proof of Registration Card (PoR). The majority of the Afghan nationals arrested included minor children, women, and seniors living in Pakistan for decades. The law enforcement agencies (LEAs) exploited the situation and jailed Afghanis with required paperwork, minors, and women either born in Pakistan or living for decades. Vigilantes in Sindh province took the law into their own hands and went door-to-door searching for the Afghan Nationals. More than, 150 Afghan musicians and artists pleaded with the Pakistani authorities and, filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) against forced eviction as the Taliban has forbidden singing, music, dance, and instruments playing. Pakistan had turned down appeals from international groups campaigning for refugee rights. Pakistan has not shown compassion towards the persecuted Shia-Hazara community and rejected the appeals from kids; their deportation to Afghanistan is akin to sending them to a slaughterhouse. Afghan Hazaras equate expulsion to ‘going to the graveyard to be buried. The Registrar of the Supreme Court returned a petition filed against the decision of the Apex Committee to deport Afghan Refugees stating that the petition does not raise any issue of fundamental rights. Source The arrests of Afghan refugees have been reported from across the country. The crackdown on Afghan refugees started after the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attack on security forces in Chitral, a bordering city with Afghanistan. Pakistan has confirmed the killings of 12 militants and four soldiers. Pakistan is not a signatory of the 1951 Geneva Convention and its 1967 Protocol relating to the status of refugees.  RACIAL PROFILING
  

• March 26, 2024: ISLAMABAD: The capital police booked a former senator and 350 others on several charges, including pelting the law enforcers with stones and threatening them with dire consequences, after they organised a protest at Express Chowk in connection with Palestine. Police also attempted to detain former Jamaat-i-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmad near a metro station on Jinnah Avenue, but returned empty-handed. A police official told Dawn a contingent intercepted the senator when he was “moving in a car along with some female members” of his family. The police led by a senior officer threatened the senator, allegedly used expletives against him and his family, and made efforts to arrest him on Sunday night, he added. However, some passersby assembled there and started making videos of the incident, prompting the police to leave the spot without making the arrest, the official added. On Sunday, the Save Gaza Campaign organised a protest at Express Chowk against the Israeli atrocities in Gaza. The protest was led by former JI Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan. Since the protest was organised without prior permission, a case was registered at the Kohsar police station under sections 148, 149, 353, 341, 427, 186, 188, and 506ii of the PPC along with Sections 2 and 3 of Amplifier Act in response to the complaint lodged by SHO Kohsar Shafqat Faiz. Source and Full Story

• March 18, 2024: The police assaulted and briefly detained several protesters including Sasui Lohar and Sorath Lohar, outside Larkana Press Club, in Larkana, Sindh province. Among many people injured were Taj Joyo, a celebrated Sindhi writer and the recipient of the Pride of Performance award. The police booked 26 known and over 150 unknown individuals on multiple charges. The protesters were demanding the arrest of the killers of the Sindhi nationalist leader Hidayat Lohar, who was killed in Naseerabad, Sindh on February 16, 2024. Sasui Lohar and Sorath Lohar are the daughters of Hidayat Lohar.  NewsDesk
  

• February 24, 2024: KARACHI: The police on Saturday baton-charged and fired tear gas to disperse activists of different opposition political parties protesting in various areas of Karachi against the alleged rigging in the recently held general elections, causing traffic gridlocks on several main thoroughfares as Section 144 was imposed in the Red Zone of the city for the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected members of the Sindh Assembly. The activists belonging to the PTI, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and the JUI-F staged protests across the city, creating massive traffic jams on Sharea Faisal and other major roads. The GDA activists gathered near the Sindh Assembly were rounded up by the police for violating Section 144 before resorting to baton-charging and using tear gas to disperse them. Despite the blockades set up by the police, the protesters managed to enter the Red Zone. The protesters who entered the Red Zone included women, some of whom were rounded up and shifted to the police station. The participants of the protest continued to chant slogans against the alleged rigging during the elections. The police stopped the protesters from moving towards the Sindh Assembly. During the clash, the videos of male and female protesters being arrested and put into police vans went viral on social media. Source and Full Story
  

• February 16, 2024: Unidentified armed pillion riders killed Hidayat Lohar, a Sindhi nationalist leader, teacher, political activist, and campaigner against enforced disappearances in Naseerabad, Sindh province. The police were reluctant to register the case several hours after his assassination. He was the father of the Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh leaders Surath Lohar and Sassi Lohar. Mr. Lohar disappeared between April 2017 and May 2019 and was declared a missing person. However, the family called it an enforced disappearance. Mr. Lohar and his family reported repeated police intimidation for their activism in the past. The family called the murder the targeted killing and denied personal enmities. NewsDesk  Motive: Undetermined 
  

• February 11, 2024: NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Two National Democratic Mov­e­­ment workers were killed and 15 others, including party cha­irman Mohsin Dawar, injured when police allegedly opened fire on a protest in Miramshah Cantonment on Saturday. The protest was being held outside the RO’s office over delayed election results in the National Assembly constituency NA-40, where Mr Dawar was a candidate.NDM’s provincial chairperson Bushra Gohar condemned the “cowardly attack” on Mr Dawar and held the ECP responsible for the incident, Dawn.com reported. February 29, 2024: Mr. Dawar reported the death of the fourth victim, Yousuf Khan, due to his injuries. March 6, 2024: Mr. Dawar updated on the incident: “The police refused to file our FIR against the attack on us after which we went to court. The police have informed the court that they have filed an FIR against us. We were attacked, we were injured, our friends were killed and a fake FIR has been lodged against us."
  

• January 29, 2024: Karachi police on Monday registered a case against PTI workers and leaders under terror charges for “resorting to vandalism” during what it called was an “unlawful assembly” at Teen Talwan in Clifton a day earlier. On Sunday, dozens of PTI workers were arrested as they took out rallies and processions on the call of founder Imran Khan. The power show was the first major party gathering since May 9 — when violent protests erupted across the country following Imran’s arrest. Over 20 PTI workers were arrested in Karachi yesterday after clashing with police at the Teen Talwar monument. According to the police, the party didn’t have an NOC to hold a rally in the so-called Red Zone. Meanwhile, the PTI said it had “informed” the district administration about their gathering, adding that other parties were holding rallies on the sites of their choice, but they were being deprived of this constitutional right. Source and Full Story.
  

• January 28, 2024: Police arrested 15 protesters affiliated with the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) for demanding the release of their leader, Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen, in Lahore, the Punjab province. The police said the arrests were made over violation of Section 144. NewsDesk. Section 144 prohibits gathering of four or more people in the concerned area. Pakistani authorities arbitrarily and widely use Section 144 to avoid lawful protests and rampant impose ahead of general elections, scheduled for February 8, 2024. PTM claims the representation of the rights of those affected by the war against militancy and what the PTM believes oppressions of the armed forces in the tribal areas. February 7, 2024: Mr. Pashteen was released from Attock jail.  
  

• January 26, 2024: The residents of Gilgit Baltistan (GB) closed their businesses and observed a wheel-jammed protest to demand the status of a province for GB, protection for the environment, termination of Sehat (medical) card, finance bill, and against an increase in the wheat subsidy. Awami Action Committee (AAC) had organized the protest. Millions of the residents struggled to use the internet and mobile phones after authorities blocked the networks to hide the protest. The protest continued for over a month. NewsDesk. February 02, 2024: Daily The News reported that the Awami Action Committee (AAC) to continue the protest while rejecting the government's notification to withdraw the recently increased prices of subsidised wheat. Chief Coordinator Awami Action Committee Ehsan Ali Advocate said that the protest is not on one point but for the implementation of the 15-point Charter of Demand. Full Story. Gilgit-Baltistan, formerly known as the Northern Areas, is a region administered by Pakistan as an administrative territory and consists of the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region, which has been the subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947 and between India and China since 1959.
  

• January 9, 2024: The police booked Khizar Qazi, the Sindh province Vice-Chair of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). The HRCP reported “HRCP strongly condemns the filing of a police report against its Sindh vice-chair, @khizarqaziKHI, and other rights activists on fabricated charges of sedition after they took part in a rally in Karachi in solidarity with the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, whose members are currently encamped in Islamabad to protest against extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.  Source 
  

• January 8, 2024: Police raided the house of the former lawmaker Nisar Panhwar and arrested him and his son Mohsin Panhwar. The police had no warrants or legitimate grounds to arrest the father and son. Mr. Nisar is affiliated with the banned Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM-L), led by self-exiled leader Altaf Hussain. Authorities have intensified arbitrary arrests of the dissents and critics ahead of the Elections, scheduled in February this year. However, Mr. Nisar is contesting the elections as an independent candidate following the government ban on MQM-L to participate in elections. Source   On February 1, 2024, the police registered a case, commonly known as the first information report FIR, after the Sindh High Court (SHC) order. The FIR has the date January 9, 2024, of the occurrence, the day Mr. Nisar and his son Mohsin Nisar were reported abducted, allegedly by the law enforcement agencies (LEAs).     In August 2022, authorities arrested ex-parliamentarian Nisar Panhwar and 17 activists affiliated with the banned faction of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), led by self-exiled leader Altaf Hussain. Mr. Panhwar challenged the media ban on MQM London-based Altaf Hussain in court by saying the media ban violates Articles 4, 17, 19, and 25 of the Constitution. The LEAs released Mr. Panhwar after 42 days of illegal custody. February 20, 2024: Police released Nisar Panhwar and his son Mohsin Panhwar.
  

• January 5, 2024: Police booked Mahrang Baloch, a Pakistani Baloch rights activist, against unlawful enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killing allegedly by the authorities in Balochistan, Pakistan, and Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen, a Pakistani Pashtun rights activist from war-torn South Waziristan. He is the chairman of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM). The police in rural Sindh province booked both the nationalist leaders and 30 activists over allegations of slogans against the country and the armed forces of Pakistan. The police booked Ms. Baloch, Mr. Pashhteen, and others under section 124-A of the Pakistan Penal Code in Khairpur, Sindh province. Surprisingly, Ms. Baloch and Mr. Pashhteen have never been to the jurisdiction of the Police Station Wadda Machyoon in Khairpur, where the police report has been registered. Mahrang Baloch's father was abducted on December 12, 2009, and never returned. Her brother was abducted in December 2017 and released after three months. Ms. Baloch has struggled to find her father’s whereabouts since adolescence. She, her family, and rights activists allege security forces for the abduction of her father and brother. She is also the leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee.  For more details, check our Annual Report 2023 TARGETING DISSENTS, RIGHTS MOVEMENTS, ACTIVISTS, AND PROTESTERS part. NewsDesk. January 24, 2024: The protesters ended the protest.

MINORITIES | BLASPHEMY | TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY 

• October 4, 2024: Radicals mainly affiliated with Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and the local police attacked, desecrated, and destroyed the minarets of a worship place built in 1952, belonging to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in Chak 145/10-R, Jehanian, Khanewal, the Punjab province. The police cordoned off the area to prevent people and the media from taking pictures or making videos. The Ahmadi community had informed the police that the demolition would violate the Lahore High Court (LHC) ruling that Ahmadiyya worship places built before 1984 cannot be demolished or altered. NewsDesk  RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME The Sunni majority makes up 76-80% of the total population of Pakistan and vehemently refuses to call Ahmadis (Ahmadiyya or Qadyani) Muslims. The Sunni forced Ahmadis not to bury their dead bodies in the Sunni cemeteries. The Ahmadis are subjected to prolonged persecution in Pakistan. A former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, declared Ahmadiyya or Qadyani “non-Muslim,” in 1974. Since then, hundreds of the members of the Ahmadiyya community have been killed, thrown in jails, and deprived of employment opportunities. Tens of thousands have left Pakistan. Since the declaration, the Ahmadiyya community has been subjected to continuous persecution and discrimination by the succeeding governments and vigilantes. Ahmadiyya community is not allowed to call their worship place a masjid (mosque) like the rest of the Muslims. It is also a punishable offense for Ahmadis to call themselves Muslim refer to their faith as Islam or use references from Muslim books. Another former military Chief and President Zia-ul-Haq added Sections 295B, 295C, 298A, 298B, and 298C as part of his Islamic revolution and to promote Sunni Islam, and likewise sects Deobandi, Hanafi, and other fundamentalists bred radicalized in particular in the Madrassahs of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan; all three countries were unified until 1947 under the British Raj. Under Sections 298-B & C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC)." Section 298-C of the PPC prohibits the Ahmadiyya community from identifying themselves as Muslims. Under Section 298-C of PPC, "Any person of the Qadiani group or the Lahori group (who call themselves "Ahmadis" or by any other name), who directly or indirectly poses himself as a Muslim, or calls, or refers to, his faith as Islam, or preaches or propagates his faith, or invites others to accept his faith, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representations, or in any manner whatsoever outrages the religious feelings of Muslims, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine."  

• October 2, 2024: Radicals mainly affiliated with Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and the local police attacked, desecrated, and destroyed the minarets of a worship place belonging to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in Nankana Sahib, the Punjab province. NewsDesk  RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME
  

• October 2, 2024: The Muslim healthcare staff targeted a senior citizen patient with religious-based discrimination and slurs because of his Christian faith at the Civil Hospital Sahiwal, the Punjab province. A Christian man, Yusuf Masih Gul, was in the hospital with his ill father for treatment. Gul Masi’s father was in serious condition while the hospital staff was not offering due care and playing board games. The hospital staff was infuriated over repeated requests for treatment; a Muslim doctor yelled at Gul and his father by saying, had I known before you are Christian, I would not have touched you. NewsDesk  June 11, 2024: Three Christian sanitary workers, Yunus Hidayat, Badal Gujrati, and Yunus Masih, died on the job in a septic hole due to a lack of oxygen, safety gear, and inhumane working conditions in Tando Mohammad Khan, Sindh province. In another brutal incident, a man, Khadim Hussain, and his sons badly tortured a Christian sanitary worker, Yasir Masih, with iron rods and tied him in chains in a sweltering Sun with a heat index (like) of 50 Celsius in the Gujjarpura area of Lahore, the Punjab province. The attackers wanted Yasir to do a job he was not assigned for. In March 2024, sanitary workers Amjad Akhtar, Qadeer Naeem, Sadiq, and an unidentified worker in Karachi and Asif Masih and Shaan Masih died in Faisalabad due to exposure to the toxic fumes while doing their jobs. The religious fundamentalists brutally tortured Workers Union Leaders Asif Yousaf in Gujranwala and Abrar Salhotra in Faisalabad for raising their voices for sanitary workers. In June 2017, a Christian sanitary worker, Irfan Masih, died after Muslim doctors refused the treatment because he was drenched in sewage water at the Umar Kot Civil Hospital, Sindh province. The doctors said they were fasting, and their religion stopped them from touching unclean objects in Ramdan.  The Sanitary workers, predominantly non-Muslims, work in very unhygienic, inhumane, and insulting conditions in Pakistan. They are forced to go into the small man-holes filled with raw sewage, holding their breaths and without a single protective gear. The Union Councils and the City administrations continue to ignore the deaths and danger faced by the sanitary workers in return for meager wages and brutal working conditions. There are only two percent of Christians in Pakistan. However, over 90 percent of sanitary workers are Christians. At least 90 Christian sanitary workers have died while cleaning the sewerage system since 2012.FAITH-BASED DISCRIMINATION 

• October 01, 2024: Minority rights activists and groups monitoring abductions, forced conversions, and forced marriages reported that five Hindu girls, Monika Oad, minor Divya Kumari, minor Rakhi, minor Meena Lohar, minor Poonam Meghwar; and three Christian girls Diya, Neha Javed and her sister Saneha Javed (not minor) became the victims of abductions, forced conversions, and/ or forced marriages in September 2024. A woman, Samina Javed, alleged the forced conversion of her minor son, Samson Javed, by his Muslim employer. NewsDesk
  

• September 2024: Radicals mainly affiliated with Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and the local police attacked, desecrated, and destroyed graves belonging to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in Khushab District, the Punjab province. NewsDesk  RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME
  

• September 29, 2024: Radicals mainly affiliated with Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), in police presence, attacked, desecrated, and destroyed 47 graves belonging to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in the Badiana neighborhood at Dugri Ghumna Sialkot, the Punjab province. The police briefly detained some youths for recording the video. The police let the youths go after destroying the footage. NewsDesk  RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME  
  

• September 25, 2024: Radicals affiliated with Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), in police presence, attacked, desecrated, and destroyed 13 graves belonging to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in Chak 363-EB, Guggo Mandi, Vehari, The Punjab province. The police and the radicals blackened the gravestones of 13 Ahmadi graves. The graveyard had been serving both minority and majority Muslims. NewsDesk  RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME 
  

• September 23, 2024: The police booked a 25-year-old man over alleged blasphemy under Section 295-C (which forbids insults to the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. The minimum penalty is a mandatory life sentence; the maximum penalty is death. In 1990, Pakistan's Federal Shariah / Islamic Court ruled that the death penalty should be required) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 in Chichawatni, the Punjab province. The complainant and the police alleged blasphemy committed on the suspect’s social Facebook posts. The suspect had recently lost his job from the Senate. The police had taken his family into protective custody and conducted raids to arrest the suspect. Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) had warned the police to register a case and arrest the suspect, or the TLP would do it. Over the years, the TLP has killed blasphemy suspects by burning them alive or setting the bodies on fire. Fearing TLP, the clerics deny the rituals and funerals of the suspects. TLP forced the families to abandon the properties and start their religious business in the confiscated properties. Please scroll down to check the horrendous acts of TLP and radicals meted out against blasphemy suspects. The succeeding governments continue to play blind and deaf, fearing TLP. The local cleric presented the police with flowers and garlands for the arrest in an apparent collusion between police and radicals.  NewsDesk BLASPHEMY   
  

• September 21, 2024: Radical religious groups reached the police for registration of a blasphemy case under section 295 over a disputed vlog against Tariq Massod, a Youtuber cleric and prayer leader of a mosque in Karachi. They accused him of saying blasphemous words and claims in his vlog. The cleric has been supporting blasphemy laws in his vlogs. NewsDesk BLASPHEMY  
  

• September 20, 2024: The police booked a man, Inayat Ullah, over a blasphemy allegation stemming from his cows’ trespassing the property of a cleric, Hafiz Javed Akhtar, in Gojar Khan, Rawalpindi, the Punjab province. Hafiz Akhter manipulated the situation, and the police charged Mr. Ullah under Section 295-C, which carries the death penalty for blasphemy suspects. That is one of the worst examples of how people in general, and the clerics in particular, arbitrarily use blasphemy laws to settle personal disputes, and the police fail to resolve the disputes accordingly. NewsDesk  BLASPHEMY
  

• September 20, 2024: Unknown radicals attacked, desecrated, and destroyed three graves belonging to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in Goi Batali (Sanyara), Kotli district, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K). There are eight graves of Ahmadis in this cemetery with four gravestones. The attackers desecrated and destroyed three gravestones. The police have registered a case. It was reported that the radicals had been forcing the administration to destroy the headtones from the Ahmadi graves and issued a deadline.  NewsDesk  RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME 
  

• September 19, 2024: The police shot dead a blasphemy suspect, Dr. Shah Nawaz Kumbhar, in an alleged encounter after taking him into custody a day before in Mirpurkhas/Umerkot, Sindh province. The police had booked Shah Nawaz under Section 295-C  (which forbids insults to the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. The minimum penalty is a mandatory life sentence; the maximum penalty is death. In 1990, Pakistan's Federal Shariah / Islamic Court ruled that the death penalty should be required) of the Pakistan Penal Code over allegations of blasphemous posting on Facebook. Dr. Shah Nawaz left Umerkot to avoid imminent lynching and radicals. The Umerkot police took his father into custody and later arrested him from Karachi and transported him back to Umerkot, where police allegedly killed him extra-judicially. In the beginning, police denied his arrest. However, Sindhri SHO Niaz Khoso confirmed his killing with accomplices. He accused Dr. Shah Nawaz and accomplices of “started shooting at the police” near the Kanta stop in Sindhri and killed them in exchange for fire. The family of Dr. Shah Nawz had fled to the nearby villages Chilhar, Chelband, and Nabisar Thar, with the dead body hidden in the car, but the radicals barred the burial. Shah Nawaz's father finally took his body to their native land. However, radicals chased and set the body on fire. By the time police arrived, 50 percent of the body had burnt, and the family buried the burnt body.  After blasphemy allegations, Dr. Shah Nawaz issued a video statementon social media, he said his old Facebook account had been hacked, and he was not using it and could not even think of blasphemy. His colleagues at the Umerkot District Headquarters Hospital called him a dedicated doctor and religious person. They said Shah Nawaz was under extreme psychotic pressure after the allegations. His relative, Dr. Shahid, a psychiatrist in the UK, was treating Dr. ShahNawaz for mental health issues. Message of the bereaved family of Dr. Shah Nawaz. His teenage daughter demanded the arrest of the cops who killed her father. The police failed to arrest the main suspect, an alleged radical cleric, Pir Amir Jan Sarhindi, and other radicals who incited the killings and announced an award of PKR 50 million for the killer of Shah Nawaz. The alleged cleric is infamous for forced conversions and marriages of minority Hindu and Christian girls. The police have obtained a coercive dictation from the family of Shah Nawaz to protect the killer police teams. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah suspended DIG Jiskani and Senior Superintendent of Police Asad Chaudhry. ​The Sindh Bar Council passed a resolution asking for a judicial inquiry into the apparent extrajudicial killing of Dr. Shah Nawaz and security for his family. ​Shah Nawaz was the constituent of the Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah. Mr. Shah said on the Sindh Assembly floor that “Dr. Shahnawaz was a top medical student at LMC and later fell victim to drug addiction (this claim was also verified by the mother of Dr. Shahnawaz that drug addiction ruined his career). He has been seeking treatment for a mental illness from DOW since 2020. He stresses that Dr. Shahnawaz through a video message denied the blasphemy allegations against him. He also reveals that Dr. Shahnawaz was at a hotel in Karachi and was arrested from Karachi and was being taken to Mirpurkhas when Police claimed he was killed in an alleged encounter. He raises suspicion about the Police encounter and asks will we now start shooting everyone suffering from mental illnesses.” The radicals celebrated the extrajudicial killing of Dr. Shah Nawaz and warmly welcomed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Mirpur Khas, a Chevening scholar and a graduate from the London School of Economics and Manchester University, Javed Jiskani Baloch, other killer cops, and their superiors with a red-carpet and the walkways filled with rose petals. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker Amir Ali Shah congratulated and presented flowers to the DIG Jaskani over the extrajudicial killing of Dr. Shah Nawaz. Police swift action and acceptance of gifts over the brutal extrajudicial killing of Dr. Shah Nawaz and Abdul Ali within days alarmed planned murder, increasing fundamentalism, and infiltrations of the Jihadi elements in Police. Sindhri SHO Niaz Khoso claims that they spotted Dr. Shah Nawaz Kanta's stop in Sindhri with accomplices was a fake account because the names and the identities of fictional accomplices were never revealed. The political parties and the authorities have not taken any action against those members who celebrated the extrajudicial killings. Much of the country is under the control of the moral police and killer vigilantes, and at the mercy of killers. During the next two days, thousands of people, including Hindu community members, visited the grave of Shah Nawaz and paid homage, performed posthumous religious rituals, and condemned the killings. The Sindh High Court SHC took no time to grant protective bail to Pir Sirhindi, who attended the court with his private militia armed with assault weapons. September 26, 2024: Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Linjar revealed the details of the inquiry committee investigating the murder to the media. He said the CCTV footage confirmed the Mirpurkhas police and the Crime Intelligence Agency (CIA) planned Dr. Shah Nawaz's murder in a fake encounter and the burning of the dead body. The Sindh government appointed a new deputy inspector general for Mirpurkhas for further investigation. The family of DR. Shah Nawaz subsequently registered a police report, known as the First Information Report (FIR) number 47/2024, at the Sindhri Police Station. The FIR against 45 individuals included the names of the high-ranking police officers and cleric Sarhindi under sections 34 (common intention), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 147 (rioting), 148 (armed rioting with a firearm), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of the offense committed in prosecution of common object), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence, or giving false information to screen offender), 302 (murder) and 364 (kidnapping or abducting for murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code; Sections 6 and 7 (terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Sections 8 and 9 (torture/punishment for custodial death) by Act of 2022, and 120 PPC (criminal conspiracy). In the middle of fear, invasion of killer radicals, and police extrajudicial crime, a Hindu man, Premo Kohli, emerged as a real hero. He ran with the body of late Shah Nawaz to protect it from burning and arrange an Islamic funeral.NewsDesk  BLASPHEMY
  

• September 19, 2024: Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka sentenced to death a 40-year-old Pakistani Christian woman, Shagufta Kiran, under Section 295-C (which forbids insults to the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. The minimum penalty is a mandatory life sentence; the maximum penalty is death. In 1990, Pakistan's Federal Shariah / Islamic Court ruled that the death penalty should be required) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), and a fine of Rs100,000. The trial court and the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had already rejected her bail applications. The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) cybercrime wing acted upon a complaint filed by a citizen, Shiraz Ahmed, and arrested her on July 29, 2021, in Islamabad. The FIA booked the mother of four for an alleged blasphemous post she shared on WhatsApp (an instant messaging and voice-over-IP service) In September 2020. Shagufta Kiran's lawyers told the court she was not the content writer and forwarded it without reading it. She has been in jail for over three years, serving in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi. NewsDesk  blasphemy
  

• September 17, 2024: Radicals mainly affiliated with Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), attacked, and destroyed an under-construction house belonging to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in Shah Faisal Colony, Karachi. The attack ensued from the fake rumors that the Ahmadis were building a worship place. Last year, an Ahmadi worship place was destroyed in the same area. NewsDesk RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME
  

• September 13, 2024: An off-duty policeman, Syed (Saad) Khan Sarhadi, shot dead a blasphemy suspect at the Cantonment Police Station in Quetta. Blasphemy suspect Abdul Ali alias Lala was in police custody for over 24 hours under Section 295-C (forbids insults to “the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.” The minimum penalty is a mandatory life sentence; the maximum penalty is death. In 1990, Pakistan's Federal Shariah Court ruled that the death penalty should be required) after his footage in the Pashto language circulated and interpreted as uttering blasphemous remarks against the finality of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). A mob of radicals outside the Kharotabad police station was attempting to get hold of Mr. Wali for imminent kill. The police thought Cantonment Police Station was safer than the Kharotabad station and transferred the suspect. The mob, consisting of religious parties and led by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), attacked the police station with weapons and grenades. They blocked traffic, a western bypass in Quetta, Chaman, and adjoining areas with burning tires and putting armed youth on the streets. Police constable Syed Sarhadi of the Kharotabad station arrived at the Cantonment Police Station and shot Abdul Wali several times in the lockup with his pistol. The son of slain Abdul Ali called his father’s murder cruelty. He said when the police arrived to arrest his father, he repented on the Holy Book of Islam and the verses mandatory for Islam and asked the police to record his acts of remorse. The police said the video would be made in the police station. Why did the police refuse to film his remorse? According to the interpretations of Ali’s alleged blasphemous utterings, Ali said, that living is more important than those who have departed and that the politics of khatme nabuhat (finality of Prophet Muhammad) should end because it's used to hurt those who are still alive. Fearing the mob, the pathologist performed suspect Abdul Wali's autopsy at an undisclosed location. Fearing their lives, threats from the radicals and the police and the prevailing rule of radicals forced victim Abdul Ali's family to forgive the killer cop Sarhadi. The government of Balochistan violated Section 49 of the Balochistan Mental Health Act 2019, which makes psychiatric evaluation necessary for all the blasphemy suspects. Under certain mental disorders, involuntary actions and limb movements are beyond control. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUI-P) Senator Abdul Shakoor Khan supported and commended the killing over blasphemy and announced financial support to pay for the legal bills of the killer Sarhadi in the Senate. Bushra Rind, former Member of the provincial Balochistan Assembly and Adviser to the Chief Minister for Services and general administration department and clerics also praised Sarhadi for the killings and called him Ghazi (a title for the survivors of the holy wars or living Jiahdis). The blasphemy suspect's name spelling was not confirmed by the family, police report, or other sources. For the victim, Ali and Wali were used, for the killer cop, Syeed, Syed, Saad, and other spellings were used. People in the killer Sarhadi neighborhood visited his house and congratulated his family for what they called service to Islam by sending an infidel to hell. The police claimed the arrest of the killer cop Sarhadi. NewsDesk  BLASPHEMY  EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS
  

• September 10, 2024: The Superior College Sambrial fired a teacher, Syed Ahmad, for his religious beliefs. According to the details, the students refused classes of Mr. Ahmad because he belonged to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community. He taught at the private Superior College in Sialkot, the Punjab province, for over eleven years. The students targeted the teacher with threats, slurs, and profanity against his religion and chased him all around the college. Ahmad went into hiding on the campus and informed the college administration. The administration failed to take any action. Fearing life, Ahmed fled the campus. Later that day, he received a message from the college that the girls' and boys' students had told the administration that they would not attend any classes nor let Ahmed continue taking classes referring to his faith. The administration knew about Mr. Ahmed’s faith, but the students came to know about him after some students from Ahmed’s neighborhood enrolled in the college. Radical groups led by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) had been demanding Ahmed's removal for a long time. News Desk  SYED AHMAD'S REMOVAL VIOLATES ARTICLE 25(1) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF PAKISTAN, GRANTING THE EQUALITY OF ALL PAKISTANI CITIZENS BEFORE THE LAW. ARTICLE 27(1) OF THE CONSTITUTION PROVIDES EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RELIGION, RACE, OR ETHNICITY. 
  

• September 10, 2024: Unknown radicals accompanied by an on-duty deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and other cops attacked, desecrated, and destroyed the minarets of an Ahmadi worship place in Subhan Shah Debalpur, Okara, The Punjab province. The worship place belonged to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community. NewsDesk RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION /  HATE CRIME
  

• September 7, 2024: The radicals affiliated with the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) refused the burial of a dead man belonging to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in Kamalia, the Punjab province. TLP activists filled the empty grave with stones and attacked the funeral. NewsDesk  RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE-CRIME  
  

• September 7, 2024: The blasphemy suspects are vulnerable to mob killings, extrajudicial killings, and arrests over fake allegations to settle personal disputes, targeting business and political rivals over arbitrary accusations in Pakistan. The radicals don’t spare mentally challenged suspects too. A former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, declared Ahmadiyya or Qadyani “non-Muslim” on September 7, 1974. The radicals marked fifty years of non-Muslim declaration with increased attacks on blasphemy suspects with a gruesome unfolded reality that the Jihadi elements have penetrated the police force. The radicalized police-men killed two Muslims, Abdul Ali in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Dr. Shah Nawaz in Sindh, in police custody over blasphemy allegations just a few days apart. The police, including high-ranking officers, celebrated the extrajudicial killings of Ali and Shah Nawaz with radicals who presented them with flowers. Since the rise of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), minorities in general and the Ahmadi in particular have been a target of the TLP activists. Khadim Hussain Rizvi, a dead cleric, founded TLP, a far-right Islamist Jihadi party, in August 2015 and forced the government to make blasphemy laws rigorous, and incited violence that killed, jailed, and booked hundreds of Muslims, non-Muslims, and Ahmadis over arbitrary blasphemy allegations. The TLP formed a death squad to kill the blasphemy suspects and named the squad after Section 295C, that carries death penalty for blasphemy suspects. On September 7, 2024, The Senate approved a resolution for a public holiday on September 7 the resolution, presented by Maulana Attaur Rehman, marked the 1974 declaration by Parliament Qadianis (Ahmadi/ Ahmadiyya) as non-Muslim through the second constitutional amendment. The government school of Bandi Shungli in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) brainwashed school kids to behead the blasphemy suspect, while another school trained the kids attacking tactics on blasphemy suspects. Recently, blasphemy allegations have been made during domestic disputes, including brother, husband and wife, and friends. In August this year, DAWN quoted the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) chairman, Dr. Raghib Hussain Naimi, as saying, “Religious outfits” manipulate Islamic laws to suit their likes and dislikes. No law carries the death penalty for desecration of the Holy Quran, but religious elements resort to mob justice to kill suspects,” Dr Raghib Hussain Naimi said. “This is not only un-Islamic but also contrary to the law of the land. NewsDesk  BLASPHEMY/   RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION /  HATE CRIMES
  

• September 01, 2024: At least eight known cases of blasphemy allegations were reported in August 2024. The police booked and/or arrested seven Christian and Hindu men, including 18-year-old Tabi and a Christian woman Saima. The police arrested a Muslim blogger, Asma Batool, for sharing a poem on social media depicting the plight of the South Asian women in Azad Kashmir. The radicals interpreted the poem, as derogatory to Allah. NewsDesk
  

• August 2024: The police arrested 18-years-old twin Christian brothers Tabish Shahid and Kalu Shahid, and Christian boy Abid Saddique, over blasphemy allegations following police report 731/24 and booked them under Section 295B (Whoever wilfully defiles, damages or desecrates a copy of the Holy Quran or an extract from that place or uses it in any derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose shall be punishable with imprisonment for life), in Kalay Wala village, district Kasur, the Punjab province. The plaintiff, Ghulam Mustafa Dogar, reached Sheikham Police Station and told the police that the brothers had committed blasphemy and hurt the Muslim feelings in the neighborhood. Nazia Shahid, mother of Tabish Shahid and Kalu Shahid, said that the family is impoverished and his sons make Tiktok. They are illiterate and lack reading and writing abilities. On the night of the incident, they were at the Muslim shrine, watching religious celebrations. They tore and threw some papers without knowing the papers contained some Arabic material. The locals said that they are Holy verses for the Muslims. Abid's father, a pastor, begged for mercy for his son because of a recent surgery and claimed that Abid.was not at the shrine. NewsDesk  BLASPHEMY   
  

• August 22, 2024: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) revoked its ruling delivered on February 6, 2024, in the Mubarak Sani case after the provincial Punjab government application, a fierce backlash from religious groups and leaders. The Punjab government had sought the removal of some paragraphs from the court order made on July 24, 2024. The Punjab government had challenged the SC ruling in SC for the hearing of the same Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa. MubarakSani Case: On February 6, 2024, a bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa repealed the conviction of man Mubarak Sani, a member of the Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community, noting the fact that the alleged offense was not criminalized until 2021; whereas, Mr. Sani was accused under the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act of 2019 and ordered the immediate release of Mr. Sani. The radical groups, vehemently supporting the blasphemy laws, had mobilized their violent followers and forced the SC and CJP to retreat. More than 6000 people gathered in Islamabad and attempted to attack the SC building while radical clerics openly announced head-money for justice Isa. According to the journalist and court reporter Matiullah Jan, “the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa surrendered to the clerics' demands. He met the clerics in his Chamber and read the agreed ruling in the court. For the faulty ruling, unscheduled meeting with the clerics, and taking the dictation from a party, CJP Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, and Justice Naeem Afghan should resign and go home. That biased ruling has brought a historical disgrace to the SC and the position of CJP. Supreme Judicial Council should take immediate action against all three judges. The decision is not the ruling, but an out-of-the-court agreement.” According to the National Commission of Human Rights to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), The number of people jailed over blasphemy allegations has ballooned 6,300% during the past three and half years. 11 in 2020, 09 in 2021, 64 in 2022, 213 in 2023, and 705 in 2024, until June 21.   NewsDesk  BIASED JUDICIARY/  BLASPHEMY 
  

• August 01, 2024: Minority rights activists and groups monitoring abductions, forced conversions, and forced marriages reported that four Hindu girls, Shahrain Mai, minor girls Kashish Lohana, Arzoo Kumari, Channu Kolhi, and a minor Christian girl, Jasmeen became the victims of abductions, forced conversions, and forced marriages in July 2024, in Sindh and the Punjab province. The activists also reported the rape and murders of two Hundi minor girls N**** K**** and P**** B****, in Sindh province and a Christian woman in the Punjab province. During the same period, fundamentalists continued to use blasphemy to attack and intimidate minorities and opponents to settle personal animosities. Many Shia Muslims were booked under arbitrary blasphemy charges in Jhang, Rangpur, Muzaffargarh, Digri, and Mirpur Khas.  In many cases, the abductors and accusers dispute the age of the abductees. Forging the documents is common in Pakistan, particularly in remote areas. Local Muslim clerics wrongly verify the abductee's age, and the police and the court accept the documents. The poor victims have no resources to engage in the legal battle against influential and politically connected landlords who also control the police. Police and courts find the paperwork. FreedomTalk.net does not disclose the names of rape victims. We disclose only convict’s names after being convicted in the court of law and our experts believe the due process had been followed by the courts. Each year, as many as 700 Hindu and Christian girls, mostly minors, are kidnapped in Pakistan, while many cases remain underreported. The court rulings often side with the kidnappers as police collude with the criminals. The majority of the victims belong to underprivileged families. The rapists use marriage and forced conversion to Islam as a convenient method to get away with rape charges of minority underage girls. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) banned marriages below 18, which carries a penalty of up to Rs200,000, and three years and rigorous jail time for the facilitators. However, the kidnappers have been filing fake evidence of the victim's age, and the courts have been accepting the paper admissible despite the objections and alternative proofs of age from the kidnapped girl's parents. POLITICAL MEDDLING: Sindh province is ruled by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), predominantly consisting of wealthy landowners with political inheritance. PPP vehemently protects the Bhutto family and the vested interests of its members while people continue to beg for clean water, medical, transportation, jobs, security, and cleanliness. Mian Abdul Haq, commonly known as "Mian Mitthu," is the ringleader of forced marriages and forced conversions of underage minority girls in the Sindh province also belongs to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). NewsDesk
  

• July 27, 2024: Two unknown motorcyclists shot dead Zakaur Rehman at his dental office in Alipur village, Lala­musa City, the Punjab province. Zakaur Rehman, 53, had been shot three times and died on the spot while the killers fled the crime scene. Mr. Rehman belonged to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community and was a member of a local Ahmadiyya group chapter. Motive: The police and forensics are investigating the motive and the crime. Since the launch of the fundamental group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan in 2015, the attacks on Ahmadis have intensified to the point of strangulation. TLP activists openly incite violence against Ahmadis and lure their followers to kill Ahmadis in return for heaven after death. The succeeding governments have surrendered to TLP and failed to take action for their killings of minorities, uniformed police, damaging the government property worth billions of rupees and seizure of the main highways to bring lives to a complete halt. On June 08, 2024, a 19-year-old fundamentalist, brainwashed by the known terrorist outfit Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)s’, open and repeated calls to kill Ahmadiyya Muslims, killed two members of Ahmadi faith, 64-year-old Ghulam Sarwar and 30-year-old Rahat Bajwah in Mandi Bahauddin, the Punjab province. NewsDesk. Motive Mr. Sarwar and Bajwa had been KILLED FOR BEING AHMADI/ AHMADIYYA
  

• July 2024: Security forces had besieged Parachinar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, and a bordering city with Afghanistan following armed sectarian clashes that ensued from long-standing land disputes between Boshehra and Malikhel tribes. The violence has killed at least 49 and injured at least 200 people, and the residents are imprisoned in their houses due to siege and fear. Patients, students, and traders have expressed frustration over the prolonged ordeal and the administration’s inability to maintain law and order. The armed clashes spread into the other parts of the Kurram district. including Pewar, Tangi, Balishkhel, Khar Killay, Tari Mangal, Maqbal, Kunj Alizai, and Para Chamkani Karman. Violent groups armed with missiles and ammunitions have stopped food and medicine into Parachinar and seemingly gained full control of the area. It’s been over a week since Parachinar has been disconnected from the rest of the country. Though the dispute is over land and harvesting rights, some Shia rights activists claimed the death of over 40 people and alleged that banned anti-Shia groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Afghan Taliban, and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and now the government-friendly Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) targeted Shia Muslims with impunity and a large proportion of dead and injured belong to the Shia community. Those anti-Shia groups see the dispute as an opportunity to kill Shias. July 30, 2024: Kurram deputy commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud told media that the armed conflict between Boshehra and Maleekhel tribes has ended following a ceasefire deal after claiming 49 lives and over 200 injuries. He said the conflicts had started on July 24, 2024 (lasted for seven days). The direct Shia-Sunni sectarian conflicts have claimed many lives over the years in the Kurram district. On May 4, 2023, in a Shia-Sunni conflict, at least 13 people had been died and 74 injured. The conflict started after the killing of a Shia school teacher. The government had to call troops to control the situation. On April 6, 2007, a Sunni fundamentalist opened fire at the Shia religious gathering 40 people had been killed and 70 injured in the subsequent clashes. The military called in to control the situation. During the conflicts, the media remain inconsiderate and avoid due coverage. NewsDesk 
  

• July 2024: Pakistani Muslim Shiite (Shia) community reported harassment and intimidation during the Muslim month of Muharram. The local administration banned indoor and outdoor Shiite religious rituals in Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. The police arrested a Shiite man and forced him to sign an affidavit that he would not organize Majlis (Shiite religious gathering) at his house in Ghaziabad, the Punjab province. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. In Gilgit, The police booked six students affiliated with the Shia student groups of the Imamia Student Organization (ISO) for commemorating Hussain Day at the Karakoram University, defying the ban on commemoration. The ISO said the prohibition of religious celebration is unacceptable as the dance and songs are not banned either. The religious fundamentalists of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) filed a blasphemy case against a Shia man, Najamul Hasan, over allegations of insulting some religious personalities in Sahiwal, the Punjab province.  The 10th day of Muharram, called Ashura, is revered equally by all Muslim sects. However, Muslim Shiites mourn the death of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Hussain Ibn Ali, who was martyred in Karbala on October 10, 680. Hussain Ibn Ali was martyred in a battle by the rival groups of the Muslims. Most Muslims term the battle a fight between good and evil and believe the martyrdom of Hussain Ibn Ali is the victory of righteousness. NewsDesk  RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
  

• July 20, 2024: OKARA; Eighteen people were arrested while 134 were booked on Friday for attacking a police station after an alleged blasphemy incident at village Behlolpur. Sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) were added to the case, in which 29 suspects were nominated. Earlier, a man was booked in another FIR on charges of setting the pages of the Holy Quran on fire. As per the first information report (FIR), the complainant was passing through Behlolpur when he saw a village resident allegedly burning the pages of the Holy Quran along a mosque wall. When the alarm was raised, the village men rushed to the site. Hujra police responded quickly, arrested the suspect and registered a case against him. As the news spread, a mob gathered outside the police station and attacked its building. The police had to shift the arrested suspect to a safer place. Man accused of blasphemy also booked in separate case. As per the second FIR, on Thursday midnight, a mob carrying rods, bricks, stones and weapons gathered outside the police station, chanting slogans against the police. They demanded the handover of the suspect who had allegedly burnt the pages of the Holy Quran. The police assured the mob that the suspect would face the law, but the protesters started throwing stones at the building, breaking its window panes. Contingents from other police stations were called to control the mob. On the report of SHO Farrukh Shahzad, a case was registered against 134 people. Eighteen of them were arrested after their identification through geo-fencing, agency reports and the National Database Regulatory Authority (Nadra). www.dawn.com

• July 14, 2024: Banned religious group Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) attacked Shia Muslims with bricks, iron rods, and chairs in Haripur, District in Hazara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. The fundamentalists attacked the Shia community in a religious procession and left over 18 Shias injured. The Sunni cleric Maulana Haq Nawaz Jhangvi founded SSP, a Sunni-Deoband, absolute intolerant group, in September 1985 amid rising Sunni-Shia conflicts with the name Anjuman-e-Sipah-e-Sahaba, in Jahng, the Punjab province. The group continued changing its name to operate. In 1989, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, and in 2003, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ). Since 2012, dozens of ASWJ activists have been killed in encounters and by unknown assailants across the country. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) again banned this religious group in 2012. According to dawn.com, “the ASWJ is led by its president Maulana Mohammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, and is a key part of the Difa-i-Pakistan, or Defence of Pakistan, Council (DPC), a coalition of around 40 religious and ultra-nationalist parties. The ASWJ was formed after the government of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf banned a handful of religious parties, including the Sipah-e-Sahaba in 2002. The Lashkar-e-Jhangwi (LeJ), another splinter group of the Sipah-e-Sahaba led by Hafiz Saeed, has also allegedly been involved in terrorist acts, and is reported to have links with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as well.” NewsDesk

• July 01, 2024: Minority rights activists and groups monitoring abductions, forced conversions, and forced marriages reported that eight Hindu girls, Paras Maheshwari, Radhika, Indira, a minor girl Sri****, three sisters Chandni, Roshni, and Paramesh Kumari became the victims of abductions, forced conversions, and forced marriages in June 2024, in Sindh and the Punjab province. During the same period, fundamentalists continued to use blasphemy to attack and intimidate minorities and opponents to settle personal animosities. A local cleric filed a police report of alleged blasphemy for the destruction of a mosque against 31 members of the impoverished Hindu Bheel community in Islamkot, Tharparkar, Sindh province. Another fundamentalist, Asif Ali, filed a police report under blasphemy laws against a Christian woman, Jamila Bibi, in Lahore, the Punjab province.  A Christian boy, Chand Masih, was booked for blasphemy over the alleged intention to desecrate the Muslim Holy Book, while his sister Zanira was subjected to abduction and forced marriage with the abductors. The reports unfolded that Chand had resisted the crime against his sister. NewsDesk  

• July 2024: Pakistani Muslim Shia (Shiite) rights activists reported the increased enforced disappearances of community members during the past few months. The activists reported the alleged enforced disappearances of Dr. Muhammad Ali Naqvi, Engineer Syed Mumtaz Hussain Rizvi, student Rashid Ali, a native of Gilgit-Baltistan, who disappeared from Karachi, and cleric Munir-ul-Hassan Jafari, within the last few months. Another member of the Shia community, Fida Abbas Zaidi, returned after a month-long disappearance. Mr. Zaidi did not share the details of his disappearance. NewsDesk
  

• June 30, 2024: GUJRAT: A 14-year-old suspect who had knifed an elderly man to death over some “sectarian” argument has been arrested by police. A spokesman for Gujrat police confirmed the arrest of Rehan in connection with a murder case lodged against him for killing 55-year-old Nazeer Hussain Shah of Chak Chohdo, Kunjah police precincts, on June 22. The remaining two suspects in the case are yet to be arrested as Faizul Hassan, the father of the main suspect and prayer leader of a village mosque, has been on interim bail from a local court. He was nominated in the case under section 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Mian Tayyab, third accused and uncle of Rehan, is still at large. Sources said the main suspect was in police custody on judicial remand. dawn.com

• June 20, 2024: A mob consisting of religious fundamentalists shot dead a man, Muhammad Ismail, son of Qamar Aziz, over blasphemy allegations in Maydan, of Swat district, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. Some people in the local shopping market alleged that Mr. Ismail had desecrated the Holy Book of Islam and handed him over to the local police station. The police locked him up in the police station. The local clerics incited the people to the killing from a mosque loudspeaker. The announcement fueled the people's killing, and thousands of people reached the police station and asked the police for custody of the suspect. The police refused and resisted the mob. However, they attacked the police station and shot dead the suspect in police custody. The police fled the station for their safety while the attackers burnt down the police station and the vehicles parked there. After killing Mr. Ismail, the mob dragged the body on the streets and burnt him alive. The administration had to bring additional force to control the mob in the popular hillside tourist attraction. Mr. Ismail was a tourist, staying in a hotel in Swat and belonging to Sialkot, the Punjab province. NewsDesk  BLASPHEMY    
  

• June 2024: The local administrations and the fundamentalists continued intimidations, threats, and arrests and deprived the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community of slaughtering animals on Eid-ul-Adha, a mandatory religious ritual for Muslims. Slaughtering animals on Eid is part of the Muslim faith, but religious fundamentalists deny accepting Ahmadis as MUSLIMS. Armed members of the terrorist outfit Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) fired at, desecrated, and destroyed the minarets and arch of an Ahmadi worship place in Kotli, Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, on June 17, 2024 (Eid day). At least ten Ahmadi men were arrested, including a 13-year-old Ahmadi boy for keeping a lamb (the police seized the lamb), and an Ahmadi man who was slaughtering an animal in his house, after someone reported that to TLP in the Punjab province. NewsDesk  RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATECRIME  
  

• June 17, 2024: Religious fundamentalists, mostly affiliated with Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), attacked, desecrated, and destroyed 17 graves belonging to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in Basti Shukrani, Bahawalpur district, the Punjab province. NewsDesk RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME 
  

• June 12, 2024: The police in uniform, accompanied by the attackers in plainclothes, desecrated and destroyed the minarets of a worship palace belonging to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in Jahman, Lahore, the Punjab province. The wee hour's attack violated Article 20 of the Pakistan constitution and the Supreme Court of Pakistan 2014 ruling of the then Chief Justice of Pakistan, Tassaduq Hussain Jillani. On August 31, 2023, The Lahore High Court Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh also ruled the structure of the Ahmadiyya worship places built before 1984 cannot be demolished or altered.  RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME  NewsDesk 
  

• June 12, 2024: The district administration in Chakwal has decided to pre-emptively detain three members of the local Ahmadiyya Community ahead of Eidul Adha on the pretext that these individuals may indulge in "unlawful activities and acting in a manner prejudicial to the public safety or the maintenance of the public order." The Chakwal Deputy Commissioner Quratulain Malik, on June 10, 2024, issued three notifications (Nos 2253-2255), approving the detention of three individuals under Section 3(1) of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance 1967. The three individuals are Tahir Ahmed, Malik Naveed Ahmed and Riaz Ahmed Malik. All three are residents of the Dulmial in Tehsil Choa Saidan Shah. In the notice, the Chakwal District Police Officer told Deputy Commissioner Malik that these men "may cause deterioration for law and order situation in the area" while describing the individuals as "miscreants." The notification further said that the matter had been discussed in the district intelligence committee, which met on June 10, 2024, and unanimously recommended "that in order to prevent society from their (sic) activities, which are quite detrimental to public peace and tranquility, sectarian harmony, as well as law and order situation, it is very necessary that they (sic) may be detained under section 3(1) of the MPO, 1960." "Considering the above-mentioned grounds given by the district police officer Chakwal and evidence of his conduct being prejudicial to public peace as depicted in the report of the district police officer, Chakwal, I am fully satisfied that in order to prevent the said person from acting in any manner prejudicial to public safety or the maintenance of public order, their detention is necessary and expedient in public interest." Source and Full Story

• June 11, 2024: Three Christian sanitary workers, Yunus Hidayat, Badal Gujrati, and Yunus Masih, died on the job in a septic hole due to a lack of oxygen, safety gear, and inhumane working conditions in Tando Mohammad Khan, Sindh province. In another brutal incident, a man, Khadim Hussain, and his sons badly tortured a Christian sanitary worker, Yasir Masih, with iron rods and tied him in chains in a sweltering Sun with a heat index (like) of 50 Celsius in the Gujjarpura area of Lahore, the Punjab province. The attackers wanted Yasir to do a job he was not assigned for. In March 2024, sanitary workers Amjad Akhtar, Qadeer Naeem, Sadiq, and an unidentified worker in Karachi and Asif Masih and Shaan Masih died in Faisalabad due to exposure to the toxic fumes while doing their jobs. The religious fundamentalists brutally tortured Workers Union Leaders Asif Yousaf in Gujranwala and Abrar Salhotra in Faisalabad for raising their voices for sanitary workers. The Sanitary workers, predominantly non-Muslims, work in very unhygienic, inhumane, and insulting conditions in Pakistan. They are forced to go into the small man-holes filled with raw sewage, holding their breaths and without a single protective gear. The Union Councils and the City administrations continue to ignore the deaths and danger faced by the sanitary workers in return for meager wages and brutal working conditions. There are only two percent of Christians in Pakistan. However, over 90 percent of sanitary workers are Christians.  NewsDesk  
  

• June 08, 2024: A 19-year-old fundamentalist, brainwashed by the known terrorist outfit Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)s’, open and repeated calls to kill Ahmadiyya Muslims, killed two members of Ahmadi faith, 64-year-old Ghulam Sarwar and 30-year-old Rahat Bajwah in Mandi Bahauddin, the Punjab province. According to the Punjab Police, Two men belonging to the Ahmadiyya community were shot dead in two strikes by a 19 years old religious student in Phalia tehsil of Mandi Bahauddin district on Saturday afternoon. Community spokesperson Aamir Mahmood told Dawn the killings took place in same locality with a difference of 20 minutes. He said the attacker in both the cases was a student of a religious seminary in the same locality as its teachers were involved in hate speech campaign against their community. He said Ghulam Sarwar, 64, of Saadullahpur locality was on way home after having afternoon prayers at the community worship place when a youth opened fire at him opposite his house. He died on the spot as the attacker left the scene. The victim was a father of six. In second strike, Rahat Ahmad Bajwa (30), a cook at a centre in the locality, was shot at by the same accused. A father of two, Bajwaa died on the spot. When the locals alerted police, it chased the attacker and arrested him. Mandi Bahauddin District Police Officer (DPO) Ahmad Mohyyuddin told Dawn the police caught the attacker and recovered the pistol. He said suspect Ali Raza, 19, had confessed to killing the two members of the minority community. He said the suspect claimed that he had listened to different speeches against the minority community on social media platforms like Youtube and Facebook which made him to carry out the killings. The DPO said the teenager had bought a pistol as he wanted to kill every Ahmadi.He said the suspect belonged to the same locality and knew about the religious beliefs of the slain. He said the case was registered against the suspect under terrorism charges. He said the police would also look into possible involvement of other person(s) in the case. Punjab IGP Dr Usman Anwar sought report from the Gujranwala RPO and instructed Mandi Bahauddin DPO to form a special team to conduct a probe.The community spokesperson said a hate campaign had been launched for the last few weeks ahead of Eidul Azha in a bid to stop their community from observing the occasion. He said the religious seminary belonged to Ahal-e-Sunnat and its head teacher was continuously propagating against their religion and hurling threats of dire consequences.He said several hate videos were viral on social media against their community over observing Eidul Azha. He said speakers were hurling threats of dire consequences but the state was not taking any action against them. Motive:  KILLED FOR BEING AHMADI/ AHMADIYYA
  

• June 03, 2024: A Christian man, Mr. Masih, who was attacked by the mob, succumbed to his injuries and died at a hospital.  On May 25, 2024, religious fundamentalists affiliated with the violent Jihadi group Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) destroyed the house of a Christian man Nazir Masih, burnt his shoe factory to the ground, and brutally tortured him with clubs, stones, and kicks over allegations of desecrating the Holy Book of Islam, in Mujahid Colony, Sargodha, the Punjab province. The angry mob destroyed many houses and partially damaged a local church. The mob tried to burn Mr. Masih alive after severe torture, but the police rescued him and two more families. Mr. Masih was treated for injuries, and his condition was stable. The violent mob also attacked the police and their vehicles. According to the Punjab Police “Sargodha police claimed on Monday to have arrested more than 100 suspects for mob violence and attempt to lynch a Christian man three days ago. Earlier, a case was registered against 44 nominated and 300/400 unidentified suspects on behalf of the state under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 and sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Sargodha District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Assad Malhi told Dawn that more than 100 suspects had been arrested in the case. He said investigations were underway with the focus on determining the extent of the damage and identifying those responsible for the issue. “The police are working tirelessly to ensure that all aspects in the case are thoroughly examined and that justice is serve​d.” Minister lauds police for saving families in Mujahid Colony incident Mr Malhi said that in addition to the investigations, community engagement was also underway in the area to address the root causes of the incident and prevent similar occurrences in the future. For the purpose, he added, the police were working closely with the local community leaders and religious scholars to promote interfaith harmony and understanding. He said police had employed the best possible strategy to ensure safety of the 10 people who were being surrounded by the unruly charged mob and safely transported them to a secure location. “No death or loss of life happened and the police also ensured the safety of the family of the targeted man and prevented the situation from escalating further,” the DPO said. Meanwhile, Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora on Monday visited the site of the mob violence in Mujahid Colony to gain insight into the situation. Speaking to the media, he described the incident as heart-wrenching and an attack on the Constitution of the country. He shared that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had issued directions for all possible measures for saving human lives. Responding to a question, he revealed that the cases had been registered under terrorism charges against 250 to 300 unidentified individuals involved in the incident. “Based on solid evidence, police have arrested 44 suspects, out of which 33 have been remanded in judicial custody,” he added.”  Two weeks later, and under extreme pressure from the radicals affiliated with Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), the court granted bail to at least 66 individuals accused of killing Nazir Masih.  NewsDesk  Blasphemy June 21, 2024: Nazir Masih’s widow died of shock and trauma.
  

• May 2024: Two members of the Muslim Shia community were targeted over alleged blasphemy in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. A known fundamentalist affiliated with a banned religious organization axed to death a Muslim Shia cleric Taqi Shah, over alleged blasphemy in Jhang. In another incident, fundamentalists accused Tanseer Haider, a member of the Muslim Shia community, of blasphemy over a Facebook post in Chak 264, Toba Tek Singh. BLASPHEMY 
  

• May 2024: At least 14 members of the impoverished Hindu Thori community converted to Islam at the shrine of the Bharchundi, led by the fundamentalist cleric Mian Mitho. Thori, likewise the Bheel community, is among the most marginalized and underprivileged communities of Hinduism. Within a few weeks in May 2023, at least two hundred members of the Hindu Bheel community were converted to Islam in Halejvi Dargha and Mirpurkhas, the Sindh province. Hindu and religious rights activists termed the conversions forced. Bheel is one of the most impoverished Hindu communities in Sindh and is often victimized by forced conversion, kidnapping of underage girls for forced marriages, and deprivation of justice. Converting to Islam somehow protects the Hindu community from injustice and kidnapping of the young girls. NewsDesk  RELIGIOUS FREEDOM / FORCED CONVERSION 

• ​May 2024: Thousands of the residents of Chaman continued their protest against the new rules of passports for crossing the border into Afghanistan since October 2023. The residents appealed to the government of Pakistan to continue to accept the national identity and tribal cards for travel to meet families and relatives and feed livestock. Chaman is a city and the headquarters of the Chaman District in Balochistan, Pakistan. Chaman is located near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, and the residents and their families live on both sides of the border in the mountainous terrain. Authorities detained and banned many nationalists from entering the area. At least three people have died in the clashes between protesters and the security forces. NewsDesk

• May 06, 2024: The police booked 27 members of the transgender community and 20 unknown individuals under different sections of the criminal code after an inquiry committee report in Gujrat, the Punjab province. Dozens of The Trans community members had allegedly attacked, rampaged, hustled the policemen, and dragged the furniture out of the Saddar police station in Gujrat after police arrested a Trans woman Hira, and her male partner, and allegedly tortured them before their release. The duo and other members were coming back from a party late at night when police stopped them. The police claimed and circulated video clips of a compromise with the Trans community after the alleged arrest and torture meted out to Hira and her partner. However, the transgender community still attacked the police station. The police booked the policemen, over allegations of raping Hira. NewsDesk
  

• May 03, 2024: Four unidentified assailants riding motorbikes shot and injured two Transgender persons Zahid, alias Mehek and Kamran alias Jia, on Kohat Road, Peshawar, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (KP). The victims were returning after performing in a celebration late at night. The injuries of Mehek and Jia are non-life-threatening. The police have taken some suspects into custody. NewsDesk  Motive: Undetermined 
  

• May 1, 2024: Minority rights activists and groups monitoring abductions, forced conversions, and forced marriages reported four minor Christian and Hindu girls, Parisha Kumari, Sania Ameen, Neena, Yarosha Masih, and a minor Hindu boy, Soojal Meghwar became the victims of abductions, forced conversions, and forced marriages in April 2024. The number of victims may be higher than reported. The police largely remained reluctant to take timely action and, in some cases refused to register a police report. NewsDesk. 
  

• May 01, 2024: The Gujranwala police have registered a case for holding a majlis inside the Imambargah. According to the case, the procession was being held at Gujranwala Imambargah when the police stopped the procession. When the mourners asked for the justification, the police administration said that there are many people living in this area and their feelings are being hurt. The mourners say that Shias and Sunnis are united in Gujranwala and there is no sectarianism here. Shiite.news

• April 24, 2024: Fundamentalist lawyers affiliated with extremist groups such as Tahreek-e-Labik Ya Rasool-ul-Allah (TLYR) forced the Karachi Bar Association to cancel celebrations of Holi organized by the Hindu lawyers in the premises of the City Court. The TLYR said that Holi is not allowed in Islam. Every year, fundamentalist groups resist and, in many cases, use force to stop minorities from celebrating their festivals. Edited Source  RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
  

• April 2024: Leaders and members of religious extremist groups, vigilantes, and clerics continued to disseminate hate against minorities with the silent approval of the succeeding governments. The hate speeches are made in public and openly threaten minorities and critics with beheadings, blasphemy charges, and public hanging with bounties. At least 98 percent of the blasphemy allegations are the outcome of personal enmity and misunderstandings and attract more fundamentalist followers. The religious extremist group Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), responsible for killing many civilians and members of the law enforcement agencies (LEAS), seized and destroyed the Federal buildings and main highways of the country and caused billions of rupees in damages to the public remained a frightening group for minorities. Pakistan has repeatedly surrendered to the demands of TLP. The hate speeches are being delivered across the country, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh  More.  March 31, 2024 / April 02, 2024 / April 03, 2024  May 15, 2024  May 17, 2024  May 29, 2024  May 31, 2024  June 02, 2024  June 11, 2024   June 01, 2024  June 04, 2024  June 10, 2024  June 27, 2024  June 28, 2024  NewsDesk    
  

• April 13, 2024: In a heart-wrenching ordeal in Lahore's Defense Housing Authority (DHA), 13-year-old Saim Liaqat Randhawa, a Christian teenager, faced a terrifying brush with forced conversion. As he made his way to a local barbershop, Saim encountered a security guard, Qadir Khan, who aggressively challenged his faith. Saim, a young boy full of innocence, found himself diverted from his usual path near Baoowala Burki Road, where he and his family live, into the upscale confines of DHA. It was there that the unthinkable happened. Khan forcibly removed Saim’s cherished cross necklace, symbolizing his Christian faith, and insisted that Saim accompany him to a mosque to partake in Islamic rituals. The tension peaked when a vigilant neighbor noticed the distressing scene and stepped in, providing Saim a fleeting chance to break away from Khan’s hold. Tragically, the respite was short-lived as Khan managed to subdue Saim once more, this time using drugs to render him unconscious. Later that evening, some local children discovered Saim, disoriented and alone, near the Learning Alliance American School. They helped him find his way back to the safety of his family’s arms. This episode not only marks a personal crisis for young Saim but also casts a shadow on the broader issue of religious freedom and safety in the community. Unedited  Source 
  

• April 11, 2024: The police arrested Pastor Ilyas Masih over blasphemy allegations in Gujranwala, the Punjab province. 
  

• April 03, 2012, was a tragic day for the Shia community of Pakistan. A passenger convoy traveling from Rawalpindi to Gilgit was stopped at Chilas by the extremists who identified Shia passengers by their names, ID cards, and marks of Matam on their backs. They brutally killed about 12 Shias. One of my friends, who was lucky enough to survive this attack, once told me that a violent mob placed a heavy stone on the belly of a Shia youngster and threw him into the Indus River. The faces of these terrorists can easily be seen in the video, but most of them are free and have even carried out similar attacks since then. Edited 
  

• April 1, 2024: Minority rights activists and groups monitoring abductions, forced conversions, and forced marriages reported five minor Christian girls, Alisha Bibi, Mahek, Roshani Shakeel, and Muskan Masih, became the victims of abductions, forced conversions, and forced marriages in March 2024. The number of victims may be higher than reported. The police largely remained reluctant to take timely action and, in some cases, refused to register a police report. NewsDesk. 
  

• March 2024: Within days, members of the transgender community were attacked in Karachi. The first incident occurred in the busy area of Johar Mor. An angry mob attacked the members of the transgender community, assaulted them, and threatened to kill them. The second incident was reported in Nazimabad, where a man attacked a transgender person with a knife. No arrests were made, nor serious injuries were reported.  HATE CRIME
  

• ​March 21, 2024: A Session court judge sentenced a Muslim woman Asiya Bibi, to life imprisonment over blasphemy under section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) over allegations of desecrating the Holy Book of Islam in Lahore, the Punjab province. The police case (commonly known as the first information report FIR) was registered by the Hayer area police in 2021. The defense and the accused vehemently denied the charges and questioned the police authority to file an FIR instead of the other person. The judge found the argument that the accused is mentally unfit not supported by the admissible evidence. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws carry death punishment for the accused guilty of insulting the Holy Book, Prophets, Prophets’ families, and wives.  NewsDesk  BLASPHEMY   

• March 15, 2024: Religious fundamentalists intensified a hate campaign against the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in Faisalabad and adjoining neighborhoods of the Punjab province. The fundamentalists gathered in different parts of the city, calling for brutal beheadings and derivations of public services, including healthcare for Ahmadis. Pakistan Medical Association displayed banners in front of the Allied Hospital urging authorities to deny medical care to the members of the Ahmadiyya community. NewsDesk  RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME  
  

• March 15, 2024: SWAT: The members of Christian community in Swat staged a protest against desecration of graves by unidentified people in Shagai area on Wednesday night. Led by Shakeel Sadiq, Robert John, Ihtisham Maseeh, William Maseeh, Zakariya Maseeh, Baber Shehzad and Saqlain Shahzad, scores of members of Christian community attended the protest in Mingora. They showed annoyance over desecration of the graves of their community members. The protesters said a four-kanal and five marla plot had been allocated for the graveyard of Christians in Shagai area of Saidu Sharif. They said that five bodies were buried there but the government failed to compensate the landowner, putting the graveyard at risk. “Last night, unidentified persons vandalised three of the five graves. We are deeply saddened by the disrespect shown to our graves,” stated the aggrieved community members. Source ad Full Story  HATE MOTIVATED CRIME

• March 12, 2024: Religious fundamentalists attacked, desecrated, and destroyed the tombstones of the two graves belonging to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in Kotli district of the Pakistani-controlled Jammu and Kashmir. One of the graves belonged to a soldier, martyred at the world’s highest battlefield, “Siachen,” in the Pakistan-India conflict in 1988. In February 2024, More than 50 armed attackers demolished four minarets of an Ahmadi worship place in Kotli and injured at least seven people, including a woman. Religious fundamentalist groups, such as Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), have been inciting violence against the Ahmadiyya community with the silent approval of the succeeding governments. NewsDesk  RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME   
  

• March 9, 2024: A court in Pakistan awarded the death penalty to a 22-year-old student and a life term to a teenger accused of blasphemy, according to reports. An additional district and sessions judge on Friday announced the sentences in the case of the student and a 17-year-old boy in Gujranwala over videos and photos sent over the phone. Source and Full Story
  

• March 06, 2024: Unidentified armed assailants killed a transgender person, Umar Nawab alias Asma, and injured two trans persons, Maqsood alias Garma and Irfan alias Bijli, and a passerby, Ibrar within the limits of Faqeerabad police station, Peshawar, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. The neighborhood predominantly housed the transgender community. The police were investigating the crime. NewsDesk Motive: Undetermined 
  

• March 05, 2024: Unidentified attackers shot and injured Haji Ramzan Ali, the Vice President of the Shia Ittahad Council, in front of his home in Hazara Town, Quetta, Balochistan province. Mr. Ramzan succumbed to his injuries the next day. The killers fired several bullets when Mr. Ramzan responded to the knocking at the door. Some Shia activists alleged a banned religious group for the murder. However, a police investigation was underway. Mr. Ali would lead his community in religious rituals. NewsDesk. Motive: UNDETERMINED.    
  

• March 4, 2024: Pillion riders shot dead Tahir Iqbal, the president of the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in Chak-84 village, Bahawalpur. Mr. Iqbal, a landlord, was out for a morning walk and succumbed to his injuries on the spot. The Ahmadiyya community termed the killing part of the increased violence, hate against the community in Pakistan, and repeated death threats from religious extremist groups. The police termed the murder Honor Killings and alleged the deceased was in a relationship with a woman, and her relatives warned him repeatedly. However, the police were trying to find out whether the murder was linked to Mr. Iqbal's faith. The police have registered a case and searching for the killers. NewsDesk. In April 2024, The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) confirmed that the killing of Mr. Tahir Iqbal was faith-based. RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME
  

• March 3, 2024: An Islamist school teacher accused two Shia schoolgirls of blasphemy for allegedly discarding some pages bearing names of the Prophet Muhammed's (PBUH) Companion in Jaswal, District Chakwal of the Punjab province. Their direct motive for accusing these girls is to free their nephews who killed the girls' cousins. The teacher's nephews had killed the accused's cousins in Oct 2023. Edited  Source  
  

• February 28, 2024: A group of around 20 individuals attacked, desecrated, and demolished the minaret of a worship place belonging to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in Dastagir, Karachi. The attackers snatched the guns from two policemen guarding the mosque and took them hostage to finish the religious-based hate crime. NewsDesk  RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME  
  

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• February 25, 2024: An angry mob in Pakistan accused a woman who wore a dress adorned with Arabic calligraphy of blasphemy, after mistaking them for Quran verses. She was saved by police who escorted her to safety after hundreds gathered. She later gave a public apology. The dress has the word "Halwa" printed in Arabic letters on it, meaning beautiful in Arabic. Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan. Some people have been lynched even before their cases go on trial. Police told the BBC they first received a call at about 13:10 local (08:10 GMT) on Sunday that a crowd had gathered around a woman at a restaurant in Lahore, the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab. Source and Full Story

• February 20, 2024: A 14-year-old minor girl S******* was abducted by a 50 yr old man Y*****, raped and forcibly married in Balochistan province. Her mother is requesting for the recovery of her daughter. Edited Source 
  

​​           FreedomTalk.net does not disclose the names of rape victims. We disclose only convict’s names after being convicted in the court of law and our experts believe the due process has been                   followed by the courts.

• February 15, 2024: Sectarian Tensions Escalate as Sunni Activists Lodge Blasphemy Case Against Shia Individuals in Narang Mandi, Punjab In a disturbing turn of events, Sunni activists in Narang Mandi, Punjab, have filed a blasphemy case under Sections 298A and 298 against six Shia individuals, accusing them of insulting Islamic Caliph Umar Ibn Khattab in a video circulated on WhatsApp. The incident adds fuel to the existing fire of sectarian divides, highlighting the deep-rooted tensions that persist in certain regions. The accusations, stemming from a video shared on a private messaging platform, have raised concerns about the potential misuse of blasphemy laws and their impact on inter-sectarian relations. Source and Full Story 
  

• February 13, 2024: A 72-year-old Christian in Pakistan was arrested and charged with blasphemy on Saturday (Feb. 10) based on a false accusation filed in retaliation over a property dispute, sources said.Younis Bhatti, known as Bhagat, was charged with desecrating the Quran under Section 295-B of Pakistan’s blasphemy statutes, which carries a mandatory life sentence, in village 211-RB, Jaranwala Tehsil, Faisalabad District, Punjab Province, said Asher Sarfaraz, chief executive of Christians True Spirit (CTS). Source and Full Story 
  

• February 12, 2024: In a disturbing post-election development, the Christian community in Chak 6-11-L, neighbouring Sahiwal Harappa, became the target of violent attacks by local Muslims. The clashes erupted over the community's support for the @president_pmln in the general elections held on February 8, 2024. Arshad Masih, 55, recounted the events leading up to the assault. His son, Ansar Gill, 30, was attacked by supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf @PTIofficial for voting for PML-N. This initial confrontation turned violent when the victorious PML-N candidates, Rana Riaz and Mian Ashraf, were celebrated by the Christian community. The situation escalated dramatically on February 12, around 2 am, when several assailants, both local and unidentified, attacked Christian homes in retaliation for the election results. The attackers used petrol bombs and firearms, targeting the homes of prominent community members, including Pastor Hashmat Masih and Tahir Gill. Source and Full Story 
  

• February 12, 2024: An Ahmadi man, Wajid Hussain, sustained serious injuries after miscreants attacked the worship place of the Ahmadiyya community and demolished its minarets and arch (mehrab) in Kotli district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Monday. More than 50 attackers equipped with hammers, shovels, and sticks stormed the worship place and demolished its four minarets. Two of the attackers also fired shots in the air to spread fear among the community. An Ahmadi woman named Zahida Parveen was also injured during the attack on their worship place in broad daylight. The injured have been shifted to District Hospital Kotli for first aid. The community has submitted a written complaint about the incident to Kotli police. It is pertinent to mention here that opponents of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya were demanding the demolition of minarets of Ahmadis’ worship place (Ahmadiyya Bait Ul Zikr). They had given the administration an ultimatum to demolish minarets until December 16, 2023; otherwise, they would attack the worship place and demolish themselves. It is pertinent to mention here that on November 24, 2023, miscreants demolished the minarets of Ahmadis' worship place in Kotli.  Source  In the later updates, the activists claimed that the assailants injured 8 Ahmadi men and 5 Ahmadi women during this assault. 
  

• February 01, 2024: LAHORE: The Ahmadi community has announced dissociation from the general elections. Community’s spokesperson Amir Mahmood said currently there is one voter list that includes all religious groups including Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Sikhs, whereas in the case of Ahmadis, a separate voter list is being prepared bearing the title “Qadiani Men/Women”, and termed it an attempt to disenfranchise Ahmadi citizens from the electoral process.  Source  
  

• January 29, 2024: Armed religious fundamentalists affiliated with Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) tortured the men who were digging the grave for a dead person, Fazal Kareem, belonging to the Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community in Sehwala, Shaikhupura, the Punjab province. The graveyard has a designated spot for Ahmadis, with two graves already there. As the participants of the funeral, both Ahamdis and non-Ahmadis started burying the body, a cleric affiliated with the TLP returned to the graveyard and contacted other members of the TLP. The TLP members gathered, tortured the funeral participants, and buried the digging tools in the grave instead of the body. The police intervened and de-escalated the situation. Later, the body of deceased Fazal Kareem was buried more than a hundred kilometers away in Rabwah. NewsDesk.  RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME  
  

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• January 24, 2024: The Muslim minority Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi) community reported that the provincial Punjab police desecrated the tombstones of Ahmadi graves in Musay Wala Daska, the Punjab province. The government of Punjab had allotted the graveyard to the Ahmadi community.  Source  In another incident the very same day, the police desecrated another Ahmadi graveyard and sprayed black paint on the tombstones of Ahmadi graves in Bharoke, the Punjab province. Source  RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION / HATE CRIME
  

• January 1, 2024: Minority rights activists and groups monitoring abductions, forced conversions, and forced marriages of minority girls reported at least five incidents of abductions, forced conversions, and forced marriages in December 2023. Three minor Hindu girls, Anita Meghwar, Indra, and Jaishree Kolhi, were allegedly abducted, converted, and married to the abductors. One minor Hindu girl, Narna Bheel, and a married Hindu woman Premi, and her child were abducted from different parts of the Sindh province. 

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES |  EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS  

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE IS A VIOLATION OF MANY INTERNATIONAL LAWS INCLUDING UNGA RESOLUTION 65/209 OF 2006 AND ARTICLE 10 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF PAKISTAN

• October 01, 2024: Baloch missing person activists and Baloch rights groups reported the enforced disappearances and kidnappings of at least 18 Baloch men during September 2024. The names of the individuals: Dad Shah Baloch S/O Master Saleem Baloch, Adnan Baloch, brother Zaheer Ahmed and Muhammad Amir S/O Ghous Bux Mengal, Supreme Court lawyer and former advocate general Mir Salahuddin Menga, advocate Fida Ahmed Dashti, Akram S/O Naseer Ahmed, Abdul Malik S/O Rashid Ali, Zahid Baloch, students Musa Khaliq Dad and Sameer Majid, Hamid Baloch S/O Khan Muhammad, Miraj S/O Noor Bux, Ijaz S/O Hussain, Ayub S/O Hamza, Doda Khalid, brothers Sabir and Abid S/O Noor Muhammad Baloch. Late updates: Dil Jan, disappeared on June 12, 2024. Returned: Deen Muhammad Marri, Kamalan Dashiti, disappeared two years ago, Dr. Rfaique Baloch, and Waleed S/O Hamza. NewsDesk

• September 4, 2024: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday ordered Inspector General of Police (IG) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan to submit a final report in the case of Faizan Usman’s alleged abduction in court by September 10. According to the petition, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, filed in the IHC by Usman’s father for his recovery, the victim was taken away by men wearing black uniforms and civil dresses without a warrant on July 5. The petition nominated the state, defence ministry, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Islamabad IG, and the station house officer (SHO) of the Shehzad Town Police Station as respondents. In a court order given yesterday, seen by Dawn.com, the IGP was asked to “seek all assistance and will be provided such assistance” by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) — which was added as respondent number six in the case — for the missing person’s recovery. Full Story www.dawn.com

• September 01, 2024: Baloch missing person activists and Baloch rights groups reported the enforced disappearances and kidnappings of at least nine Baloch men during August 2024. The names of the individuals: Nusram S/O Pir Bux (this is his second alleged disappearance), Sheharyar Qambrani, Sadakat Ullah S/O Allah Bux, singer Riaz Baloch, Amanullah S/O Eid Muhammad, Shahzad Baloch S/O Mehboob Mullazai, Irshad Ahmad S/O Abdul Razzaq, Naeem Satakzai, and Ghulam Nabi Satakzai. Late updates: Baloch Voice for Justice alleged its chairman, Junaid Baloch, and vice chairman, Sherbaz Baloch, disappeared during Raji Muchi's preparation on July 26, 2024, from Quetta. Shah Nawaz Sarparah S/O Noor Bux and Abdul Ghani vanished on April 04, 2024. Abdul Ghani has returned, but Shah Nawaz is still missing. NewsDesk 
  

• August 2024: Eleven dead bodies of six men and five women were discovered in Tump, Khuzdar and Killi Paind Khan of Quetta, Balochistan. Four dead bodies of the disappeared men were identified as Fayyaz Jattak, Saeed Ghulamani, Saeed Miraji, and Nisar Ahmed. The Baloch activists called them the victims of the enforced disappearances. The bodies had multiple bullet holes and torture marks. Authorities alleged separatists’ terrorist group, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) for the crime. NewsDesk  
  

• August 2024: Rights activists of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir reported the disappearances of Raja Mudassar and Aqib Abbasi from Neelum, Kashmir. Mudassar disappeared five months ago, and Abbasi for three months. No further details were available at the time of documenting their disappearance. Rights activists called the disappearance “Enforced Disappearance”.  
  

• August 15, 2024: Unidentified masked perpetrators, carrying weapons, broke the residence door and abducted YouTuber Aun Ali Khosa in the wee hours from his apartment in Lahore, the Punjab province. The abductors seized the electronic devices and cameras. Khosa identifies himself as a video and digital content creator on his Instagram account and an estimated 150,000 YouTube subscribers. In his satire vlogs, he criticized the government over corruption and inflation. Recently, he released a song, Bill Bill Pakistan, a parody of the famous Pakistani song Dil Dil (heart) Pakistan, mocking the government for unaffordable and unjustified power bills; the bills forced many people to commit suicide. On August 16, 2024, the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the police to present Khosa in the court by August 20 after his wife, Binish Iqbal, filed a petition in the court and alleged the law enforcement authorities LEAs for “unlawful and illegal abduction of her husband. August 18, 2024: Aun Ali Khosa returned home. He did not share any details of his abduction. One of her lawyers, Khadija Siddiqi, said, "that in all the cases lawyers have represented in the LHC in the last two months, the abductors have the same modus operandi; they break the doors in the early hours around 2 – 3 am, dozens in numbers, masked and armed, seized laptops and phones, and destroy the CCTV. They release the abductees in the dark of the night after the court intervention.” NewsDesk
  

• August 01, 2024: Baloch missing person activists and Baloch rights groups reported the enforced disappearances and kidnappings of at least 15 Baloch men during July 2024. The names of the individuals: Hayat S/O Aman Ullah, Mohammad Arif S/O Pir Bakhsh, Abdul Raheem S/O Kunnar Khan Lehri, Samundar Khan S/O Pasand Khan Lehri, Baiger S/O Deen Muhammad Mengal, Shah Jan S/O Saleem, Gohar Deen S/O Heer Jan, brothers Muhim Jan and Mayar S/O Lal Bux, Muhammad Arif S/O Abdul Rehman, Muneer S/O Sabzo, Waqas Ahmad, Sohaib Lango S/O Deen Muhammad Lango, Hidayat Ullah Samalani, and Saddam Lango. Late Updates: Zaheer Ahmed disappeared on June 27, 2024, and Ubaid Ullah S/O Jalal Khan. Returned: Abdul Latif Bangalzai returned after ten months. Friends and rights activists allege security forces for enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests. NewsDesk
  

• July 1, 2024: Baloch missing person activists and Baloch rights groups reported the enforced disappearances and kidnappings of at least 19 Baloch men during June 2024. The names of the individuals; Noor Ullah S/O Seedhan Bugti, Shah Hussain S/O Tarkwan Bugti, Sewa S/O Fazal Muhammad, Anees Baloch, Khair Ullah S/O Murad Bugti, Yaqoob S/O Siddique, Dr. Shahid and his cousin, Saifullah, Jaffar S/O Malhar Bugti, Asif S/O Qasim, Ali Ahmad S/O Zareef, Barham Dag S/O Nawaz; disappeared 2nd time, Abdul Rasheed Marri S/O Malik Dad, Abdullah (14-year-old), Khaliq S/O Gul Hussain Bugti; his father Gul Hussain Bugti, disappeared in 2012, Bahadur S/O Bashir Ahmed, Mohammad Arif S/O Pir Bakhsh, and Dr. Abdul Hai Baloch S/O Mohammad Aslam. Late Updates: Muhammad Hayat Mengal S/O Shah Nazar Khan, disappeared on May 22, 2024, Shah Faisal Mengal S/O Jan Muhammad, disappeared on February 05, 2022, Farooq Sakhi, disappeared on May 28, 2024, with five other individuals, except Sakhi all other returned, Abdul Latif Bangalzai, disappeared on September 19, 2023. Returned: Kamran Baloch, disappeared on May 16, 2024; Nusram S/O Pir Bux and Yazir S/O Ghani, disappeared on October 12, 2023, and Farooq Sakhi Dad, Short term disappearances: Gold medalist student Hanif Baloch and his brother Saeed Baloch, students Danish Iqbal and Farhad. Friends and rights activists allege security forces for enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests.

• June 28, 2024: Haroon Mehmood has been missing for the last 15 years. The court also ordered to provide security to the petitioner. The petition seeking recovery of missing Haroon Muhammad of KP came up for hearing before a single bench of IHC led by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb Thursday. The Deputy Attorney General (DAG) filed a copy of the FIR in IHC. The FIR mentions officers of intelligence agencies in the report. The incident which occurred in 2009 was registered in Jamrud police station after 15 years. The federal government also sought four weeks for payment of compensation amounting to Rs30 lac to the family of the missing person. The court accepted the federal government’s plea and remarked if the compensation was not given, the salaries of the defence and finance secretaries would be attached. thenews.com 

• June 07, 2024: Unidentified armed men abducted Chairman Village Council Khadi 2, Kamal Shah, in North Waziristan. The National Democratic Movement (NDM) alleged security forces for abduction. NewsDesk 
  

• June 1, 2024: Baloch missing person activists and Baloch rights groups reported the enforced disappearances and kidnappings of at least 30 Baloch men during May 2024. The names of the individuals; Rahimo Bugti and his son Amiro, Shezad S/O Ubaid, Dawood Abdul Wahab, Hayat Baloch S/O Naku, Dost Ali S/O Dosten Bugti, Balach S/O Shahmore Bugti, Dilshad S/O Abid Hussain, Yasin S/O Ghulam Mustafa Bugti, Saleh S/O Hazar Khan Bugti, Yousuf S/O Zahoor, Popal S/O Lal Bux Bugti, brothers Amjad and Ali S/O Din Muhammad, Mehboob S/O Yar Jan, Taj Muhammad S/O Muhammad Ibrahim, Baloch S/O Dil Murad, Abdullah S/O Abdul Qadir, Saad S/O Musa, Farhad S/O Ghafoor, Muhammad Salah S/O Tariq, Imtiaz S/O Iqbal, Waeem S/O Hassan, Aijaz S/O Umeed, senior citizen Abdul Rhim, Tariq S/O Murad Jan, Hakim S/O Majid, Muhammad Hayat Mengal S/O Shah Nazar Khan,  Shahyaq Baloch and Farooq Baloch.  Short-Term Disappearances: Kamran Baloch. Returned: Balochi poet Sakhi Sawar, disappeared on June 5, 2023; Munshi S/O Wadera Roshan Bugti, was disappeared on July 16, 2023; Arif and Afzal, disappeared for over a year. ​Late updates: Shah Faisal Mengal S/O Jan Muhammad was disappeared on February 05, 2022. Friends and rights activists allege security forces for enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests.

• May 1, 2024: Baloch missing person activists and Baloch rights groups reported the enforced disappearances and kidnappings of at least seven Baloch men during April 2024. The names of the individuals; Israr Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmad Mohammad Shahi S/O Naveed Ullah, Aziz, Jamil Umer (Deputy Convener of the Turbat Civil Society), Sana Baloch, Dilsard S/O Bodal, and Sajjad Azam. Discovered: Law Enforcement agencies (LEAs) confessed the Custody: Muhammad Rahim Zehri, disappeared on February 3, 2023, with his wife Rashida Bibi. Bibi had returned after eleven days. LEAs confessed his custody and transferred him to jail. SourceFriends and rights activists allege security forces for enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests.
  

• April 1, 2024: Baloch missing person activists and Baloch rights groups reported the enforced disappearances and kidnappings of at least seven Baloch men during March 2024. The names of the individuals; Bilal Ahmed S/O Muhammad Bux, Shoib Buzdar S/O Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Asif S/O Muhammad Khan, Balach S/O Dara, Shoib Ahmed S/O Behram , Riaz Ahmed S/O Fateh Muhammad, Saddam Hussain. Short-Term Disappearance: Khuda Dad S/O Siraj Ahmad. Returned: Asim S/O Muhammad Azam and Wahab Kurd. Friends and rights activists allege security forces for enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests. The Human Rights Council (HRC) of Balochistan has alleged in its 2023 annual report that “The Human Rights situation in Balochistan during 2023 was marked by grave violations, with 601 cases of enforced disappearances and 525 reported killings. This report is based on verified data, representing only a fraction of the actual incidents due to limited internet access in many areas.”  
  

• March 1, 2024: Sindhi rights groups and nationalists reported the enforced disappearance and arrests of Faisal Wagen. Short-Term Disappearance: Anwar Bruhdi, Vice Chairman Jeay Sindh Tehreek. Returned: Ameer Jamali. Friends and rights activists alleged the arrests, raids, and police cases are politically motivated and linked to the individual’s political affiliations and the security forces for enforced disappearances. Translation & Edited by Ali. H. Chang
  

• March 1, 2024: Baloch missing person activists and Baloch rights groups reported the enforced disappearances and kidnappings of at least 21 Baloch men during February 2024. The names of the individuals; Mohsin Hassan S/O Abul Hassan, Mir Zaman Samalani S/O Shah Zaman, Ahmad Nawaz S/O Khudai Rahim Samalani, Abdul Wahab Kurd, Wajid Baloch, Salam Baloch, Gul Khan Shikari and his son Miran, (Gul Khan Shikari another son Nawab Imran, and nephew Najeeb Mullazai, have been abducted and still missing), Zahid S/O Muhammad Akhtar, Taaekondo gold medalist Haroon Baloch, Nasir Dinar Zai S/O Muhammad Alam, Sarwar S/O Muhammad Jumma, Sher Jan S/O Azeem, Muhammad Ayub Kurd S/O Bashir Ahmad, Naveed Kurd, Ali Jan S/O Musa, Waheed S/O Rasheed, Qambar S/O Tahir, Tariq S/O Mir Hussain Langhani, Abdullah Shah Marri S/O Mehrab Marri and Sajid Samalani S/O Muhammad Ishaq ( his brother Nisar Ahmad missing since June 15 ). Short-Term Disappearance: Sanaullah S/O Khuda Bux Bangalzai, student Muhammad Amir Alizai, and Imtiaz Aleem Baloch. Late updates: Fateh Khan Samalani S/O Muhammad Rahim disappeared from his home in Quetta on May 24, 2023. Returned: Barhamdag Nawaz, Wahid Bux, Liaquat Sasoli, Abdul Malik Samalani, and Muhammad Jan S/O Peer Jan. Source  Friends and rights activists allege security forces for enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests. 
  

• February 3, 2024: Baloch activists claimed that the two bodies of the seven dead bodies brought to the Civil hospital were the victims of the enforced disappearances. Zrumbesh Urdu claimed that both Bashir Ahmed Marri S/O Haji Khan and Arman Marri S/O Nihal Khan were abducted on June 2, 2023. 
  

• February 1, 2024: Sindhi rights groups reported the enforced disappearance and, arrests of at least 30 Sindhi nationalist men during January 2024. The names of the individuals; Kamran Khokhar, Arbab Bheel (political activist), Zahid Dahri, Pathan Khan Zohrani, Bilal Sher, Saeed Tanio, Waqr Dahani, Asif Sangi, Rehman Dino Mahesar (lawyer), Ameer Jamali, Irshahd Noohani, Muhammad Kousi, Faqir Ijaz Gehe, Sajan Malukani, Shaukat Malukani, Naeem Malukani, Syed Uzair Shah, Sain Ayoub, Insaf Dahi, Kashif Tagar, Murtaza Junejo, Suhail Raza Bhatti, Mohan Meghwar, Sarwech Noohani, Zafar Chandni, Allah Wadai Mehar, Dr. Fateh Muhammad Khosa, Faqir Ijaz Gahi, Syed Aziz Shah and Naveed Mirani. Booked: Ghani Aman Chandio, Amir Mangrio, and Ali Raza Brohi. Short-Term Disappearance: Qurban Imrani. Friends and rights activists alleged the arrests, raids, and police cases are politically motivated and linked to the individual’s political affiliations and the security forces for enforced disappearances. Translation & Edited by Ali. H. Chang
  

• February 1, 2024: Baloch missing person activists and Baloch rights groups reported the enforced disappearances and kidnappings of at least 22 Baloch men during January 2024. The names of the individuals; Ghulam Rasool S/O Suleman, Suhail S/O Moosa, Aziz S/O Mehar Dil, Balach S/O Rauf, Imam Jan S/O Sawali, Hassan S/O Asif, Jasim S/O Mohammad Bux, Ismail S/O Jumadar, Sala Bugti S/O Gago Bugti, Balochi poet Qasim Malar, Ismail S/O Shahi dad, Hafeezullah S/O Abdul Hameed, Aslam S/O Karim, Hammal S/O Qadir Bux, Ghous Bux S/O Miran Bux Bugti, Rahim Dad S/O Haji Bugti, Atta Ullah S/O Gohar Khan Bugti, Faisal S/O Hanif Bugti, Shah Hussain S/O Shah Gul, Akhtar Balanzai S/O Aman Ullah, Wahid Bux S/O Pir Muhammad, and Mehboob Baloch. Short-term Disappearance: Bahadur S/O Chakar Sakna. Returned: Badeen and Jibran. Late Updates: Ali Ahmad Shahwani S/O Noor Ahmad, a police officer, disappeared while on his way home from work in Ziarat Balochistan on July 26, 2021.  Source  Friends and rights activists alleged security forces for enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests. 
  

• January 1, 2024: Baloch missing person activists and Baloch rights groups reported the enforced disappearances and kidnappings of at least 30 Baloch men during December 2023. The names of the individuals; Balochi singer Diljan Deedar, his brother Shah Hussain, and Cousin Yasir Ghulam; Zulfiqar Baloch, Sakim (student), Salman (student), Amir, Zubair (student), Abdullah Saleh (Baloch Raj leader), Asif Baloch, Miraj Khalid, Jamil Baloch, Maqsood S/O Gheram, Asif S/O Khair Bux, Miraj S/O Nasir, Bazoo S/O Mehran Bugti, Nazar Ali S/O Bazeer, Noorullah S/O Seedan Bugti, Ali Jan S/O Tosho Bugti, Ghulam Mustafa S/O Mehar Ali, Mir Ahmad S/O Nazar Muhammad, Shafi S/O Dreehan Bugti, Qadir Bux S/O Wahid Bux, Iqbal S/O Saeen Bux Bugti, Rasool Bux S/O Ghulam Rasool Bugti, Pasindar S/O Rehmat Bugti, Chitta S/O Sahib Marri, Khair Jan S/O Mehar, Muhammad Aslam Baloch, and Muhammad Jan S/O Peer Jan. Short-term Disappearance: Badeen and Jibran. Returned: Jan Muhammad Kurd returned after nine years. Late Updates: Naqibullah Jamaldini S/O Khairullah, missing since January 7, 2023, from Noshki, Balochistan. Family, friends, and rights activists alleged security forces for enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests. 
  

CENSORSHIPS | BANS | FINES

• September 7, 2024: Presi­dent Asif Ali Zardari signed the disputed Public Order and Peaceful Assembly Bill 2024 into law, ignoring the constitutional bindings of the rules of time. Under the new law, unlawful assembly is punishable to three years or more extendable to ten years for the repetition of offences and unspecified amount of fine. The Senate and the lower house took only four days and the President a few hours to promulgate the bill into law. The bill grants the power to the government to declare designated areas in the capital Islamabad ‘red zone’ or ‘high-security zone,’ and restrict a crowd of more than 15 persons for political gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, or protests. The new law empowers the deputy commissioner (DC) in Islamabad to grant permission for public meetings. The denial from the DC, the parties may appeal the decision to the commissioner. The haphazardly passed bill was aimed at warning and intimidating the opposition, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) scheduled a public gathering the next day (September 8, 2024) at Sangjani, Islamabad. PTI called the new law “tyranny of the fake majority”. The constitution of Pakistan allows the President 10 days after the parliament passes the bill. The ruling Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) defended the bill. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said the bill was meant to regulate public gatherings, rallies, and unauthorized assembly in Islamabad and maintain public order. Background: In 2014, Imran Khan's Sit-in (Dharna) lasted 126 days and paralyzed the life in Islamabad. It interfered with the public’s freedom of movement, raised environmental concerns, jeopardized national security, and damaged public and private property. During Dharna, Imran Khan supporters armed with knives, chains, batons, and cutting tools attacked the Parliament House and almost seized the capital for over two weeks. At least five people died, and more than 500 were injured in the attack. PTI supporters tortured, briefly kidnapped, and thrashed the members of the law enforcement agencies. Dharna proved a fatal blow to the thriving economy, and the financial meltdown continues to date. Since 2014, Dharna, political and religious parties freely roam around Islamabad in the name of rallies and public gatherings causing constant and grave inconvenience to the public. In November 2021, fearing the seizure of the capital city of Islamabad and the parliament, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) unbanned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and released all the detainees, including those who were charged with the killings of civilians and at least 12 policemen. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) banned the coverage of TLP occupation and attacks to hide killings and destruction. In June 2023, the coalition government of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) surrendered to the demands of TLP and agreed on speedy trials for the blasphemy accused. In addition to the newly passed controversial Public Order and Peaceful Assembly Bill 2024, Section 144 already prohibits the gatherings of four or more people in the concerned area. Authorities arbitrarily and widely use Section 144 to avoid lawful protests and, in many cases, suppress the protests for constitutional rights. NewsDesk 

• August 28, 2024: The deputy commissioner (DC) of Quetta ordered the Quetta press club to obtain a non-objection certificate (NOC) for seminars and conferences. The DC barred the activities at the press club without prior NOC over the pretext of the “law and order” situation. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the decision. NewsDesk
  

• August 2024: Pakistan banned and blocked a horror YouTube series, ‘Barzakh,’ after a fierce backlash from religious conservatives. The series premiered on July 19, 2024, on ZEE5 and Zindagi's YouTube channel. It was directed by Asim Abbasi, with the lead cast of Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed, and Salman Shahid. The storyline deals with supernatural powers, LGBTQ, gay intimacy, homosexuality, the afterlife, and marriage with the spirit of past love. Zindagi and Team Barzakh zindagiofficial issued a statement, on Instagram “We, at Zindagi and Team Barzakh, extend our heartfelt gratitude to our global audience for their unwavering support for Barzakh - a show that was created to bring people together everywhere. But in light of the current public sentiment in Pakistan, we have made the decision to voluntarily withdraw Barzakh from YouTube Pakistan, effective 9 August 2024. This decision underscores our dedication to honouring our audiences without causing alienation," A Pakistani fashion designer Maria Butt, known as Maria B, also filed a complaint with the Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA), asking for a ban on Barzakh. Contrary to her profession, Maria B. has targeted many female actors and TV shows. Last year, she targeted Saba Qamar and Muneeb Butt for a TV show, Sar-e-Rah, alleging the show US-funded and promoted the transgender community in Pakistan. Maria B’s and like-minded conservative and misogynist views have endangered the safety of the LGBTQ community in Pakistan, who often face arbitrary fatalities, attacks, and segregation.  The Indian viewers can still watch the show on ZEE5. NewsDesk

• August 1, 2024: ISLAMABAD: A British-Am­er­i­can author and journalist, who had been trying to secure a meeting with incarcerated former PM Imran Khan, was told by law enforcement agencies on Wednesday that his visa had been cancelled and he had five hours to leave the country. Charles Glass, 73, is an author, jo­­urnalist, broadcaster, and publisher who specialises in the Middle East and World War II. He has served pro­minent media organisations such as Newsweek, ABC TV, and The Tele­graph, among others, and currently works as a freelance journalist. Sources said that Mr Glass, who was recently spotted outside Adiala jail alongside Mr Khan’s sister Aleema, was at the residence of Islamabad-based senior journalist Zahid Hussain when they were visited by a large police contingent. Full Story www.dawn.com

• July 09, 2024: ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Monday authorised the Inter-Services Inteligence Agency to intercept calls and message or trace a call in the interest of national security or in apprehension of a crime. According to sources, the cabinet approved the summary through circulation. The gazette notification (S.R.O 1005(I)/2024 said, “In exercise of the powers conferred under section 54 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996 (the Act), the Federal Government in the interest of national security and in the apprehension of any offence, is pleased to authorize the officers not below the rank of grade 18 to be nominated from time to time by Inter-Services Intelligence (IS!) to intercept calls and messages or to trace calls through any telecommunication system as envisaged under Section 54 of the Act.” The text of the sections: 54. National Security.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, in the interest of national security or in the apprehension of any offence, the Federal Government may authorize any person or persons to intercept calls and messages or to trace calls through any telecommunication system. (2) During a war or hostilities against Pakistan by any foreign power or internal aggression or for the defense or security of Pakistan, the Federal Government shall have preference and priority in telecommunication system over any licensee. (3) Upon proclamation of emergency by the President, the Federal Government may suspend or modify all or any order or licences made or issued under this Act or cause suspension of operation, functions or services of any licensee for such time as it may deem necessary.Provided that the Federal Government may compensate any licensee whose facilities or services are affected by any action under this sub-section. thenews.com

• June 08, 2024: ISLAMABAD: Over 44,000 social media accounts and posts were removed or blocked from Facebook, Twitter and YouTube from January 2023 till now by the authorities, The News has learnt. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) while talking to this correspondent revealed that under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, a total of 44,418 unlawful social media accounts and posts were blocked or completely removed from different social media platforms. The data shared with The News reflected that from January 2023 up till now, the highest number of content (post or account) under the PECA law is removed from Facebook which is followed by YouTube and Twitter respectively. A total of 20,829 unlawful facebook posts and accounts have been removed or blocked from the said platform by PTA.From YouTube, a total of 12,776 posts, videos or YouTube accounts have been blocked or removed by PTA during the said period of time. Whereas from Twitter, a total of 10,813 twitter posts or accounts were blocked or completely removed from the platform during January 2023 till this date. In 2016, the National Assembly enacted the PECA law to provide a comprehensive legal framework to define various kinds of electronic crimes, mechanisms for investigation, prosecution and adjudication in relation to electronic crimes. Talking to The News, a source in PTA explained that under PECA 2016, the PTA has been empowered to remove or block online content if it considers it necessary in the interest of the glory of Islam, the integrity, security and defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of any court or commission. Source 

• May 30, 2024: PESHAWAR: In a bid to improve the performance of the cops, Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Kashif Zulfiqar has restrained the police personnel from uploading videos on social media platforms including TikTok. An order issued by the SSP operations on Thursday said the police personnel will not share videos on social media platforms even if they are related to any arrest. “TikTok videos affect the performance of the police [officials],” read the order. It also warned that the strict action will be taken against those found violating the instructions. The ban was imposed after opposition and treasury benches members criticised the police officials over the TikTok videos, as per sources. Source and Full Story 

• May 18, 2024: The police and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) banned the Participants, journalists, students, and panelists from entering the Quetta Press Club and locked the doors. Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has organized a conference titled ‘Fencing Gwadar - From Mega Project to Mega Prison.’ The provincial government of Balochistan is erecting a fence around the 24 square kilometers of Gwadar city with an estimated cost of $ 60 billion, with hundreds of surveillance cameras and foolproof security. The Reason behind fencing is to protect the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) from the Baloch separatists. The Baloch alleged the provincial government of Balochistan is not doing justice to locals in CPEC by not providing jobs in the projects, depriving them of their livelihoods of fishing, and displacing them from their ancestral lands. China is one of Pakistan’s saviors from economic meltdowns, defaults, military needs, and hostile attacks. However, the Baloch separatists, supported by the big Baloch landlords and foreign elements used suicide bombers to kill Chinese citizens and Pakistani forces in intermittent attacks. The terrorists have killed hundreds of Chinese citizens and professional and Pakistani force members on duty to protect the Chinese citizens. In March 2024, the terrorists killed five Chinese engineers and their driver in Besham; The Baloch Liberation Army suicide wing, Majeed Brigade, tried to attack Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) and Pakistan's second largest naval airbase, PNS Siddique, in Balochistan. The security forces thwarted both attacks. The terrorist attacks in Dasu, Tarbela, and several other places in Pakistan over the years have killed dozens of people. In April 2022, a suicide bomber killed three Chinese tutors and a Pakistani driver in a suicide bombing near Karachi University's Confucius Institute. The separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed the attack. NewsDesk

• May 17, 2024: The media was restricted from covering the oath-taking ceremony of the acting Supreme Court (SC) Justice Muneeb Akhtar. President Press Association of Supreme Court and senior journalist Mian Aqeel Afzal reported that the police informed the media that the registrar of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) imposed a rigid ban on media from entering the SC. However, the beat reporter of the SC said that "there is no ban on media." 
  

• May 17, 2024: The Supreme Court has issued contempt of court show-cause notices to Senator Faisal Vawda and MNA Mustafa Kamal over their allegedly derogatory speeches against the judiciary. A three-judge bench of the court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and including Justice Irfan Saadat and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, took up a suo motu case on Faisal Vawda's press conference of May 15 wherein he took a jibe at the judges who alleged interference in judicial matters. The additional attorney general appeared before the bench. The Supreme Court adjourned the contempt of court suo motu hearing till June 5. Contempt notices were issued to both politicians following their press conferences on May 15 and 16, respectively. The court has demanded responses from Vawda and Kamal within two weeks, and has also sought records of their press conferences from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra). In retrospect, the court decreed, there had been contempt of court, and summoned both Vawda and Kamal. CJP Isa emphasized that the comments made by the two leaders appeared to undermine the dignity of the judiciary. "We continued to show restraint, but there is a limit," he asserted. "I have taken oath under the Constitution, have you ever heard an insult from me against parliament? Parliament is supreme," the chief justice remarked.  Source and Full Story  June 28, 2024: The Supreme Court accepted Faisal Vawda and Mustafa Kamal formal apologies.  

• April 26, 2024: ISLAMABAD: An Accountability Court Thursday barred former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi from making statements in the courtroom against the state institutions and authorities. The court issued a comprehensive order on a petition filed by Imran Khan for a fair trial. Judge Nasir Javed Rana ordered Imran and his spouse to avoid speaking against the state institutions in the courtroom. According to the order, the PTI chief made provocative political statements against the senior officials of state institutions, including the army, judiciary and the army chief. The order added that such statements disrupt judicial decorum and also obstruct judicial functions such as the dispensation of justice. The order further stated that during the jail trial of PTI founder, the media will limit its reporting on the court proceedings and not report statements of the accused. Source & Full Story

• April 5, 2024: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) prohibited all its employees from interacting with all forms of media. The FBR has imposed an immediate ban after unauthorized and sometimes misleading media interactions of its staff with the media. NewsDesk
  

• March 26, 2024: Senior Journalist Hamid Mir alleged on his verified X account that the “Prime Minister of Pakistan and Minister of Defense reached the Chinese Embassy to condole the deaths of five Chinese engineers killed in a terrorist attack in Pakistan, and the Foreign Office also condemned the attack. However, the Pakistan media has been ordered to censor the mentions of Chinese Engineers in the headlines. Instead of controlling the terrorists, Pakistan is controlling the country’s weak media, alas!”   
  

• March 12, 2024: ISLAMABAD: The Punjab home department on Tuesday imposed a two-week ban on prisoner visitations as well as media coverage at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, which houses high-profile political figures including PTI founding chairman and former premier Imran Khan. In orders issued to the Punjab police chief, the department maintained that the decision was made in light of a 'threat alert' issued for the prison by the law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The department’s Internal Security Wing reported that terrorists – backed by anti-state groups -- wanted to target the prison to spread chaos in the country. Therefore, it added that it was imperative for the department to take the necessary measures to avoid such incidents. Source and Full Story

• March 3, 2024: The state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) censored and muted the speeches of the opposition leaders Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Asad Qaiser, Omar Ayub, and Sardar Akhtar Mengal speech, delivered in the parliament at the ceremony of electing the new Prime Minister of Pakistan. The just-elected speaker, Ayaz Sadiq, affiliated with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), allegedly ordered the suspension of the National Assembly’s (NA) audio and video system and NA's YouTube channel. The Information Ministry said the PTV Managing Director is the person who makes such decisions. The PTV did not respond to the matter. The opposition, which has taken a temporary name, Sunni Itehad Council (SIC), following the ban on Pakistan Tehreek Insaf's (PTI) signature election symbol, “cricket bat,” was readying to file a privilege motion against state-owned electronic media.  NewsDesk  
  

• February 17, 2024: The Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) canceled the invitation sent to Ronya Othmann, a German author, poet, and journalist, over allegations of her support to Israel and anti-Palestine statements. The pro-Palestine activists had protested and started an online petition against Ms. Othmann's participation. According to a slide at the KLF site, “Ronya Othmann will not be attending KLF, and her sessions, therefore, have been canceled. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.” 
  

• February 8, 2024: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had complained that Geo News, ARY News, GNN and Dawn News had violated ECP code of conduct and PEMRA law by conducting exclusive interviews of leaders of various political parties. PEMRA has given the management of the news channels seven days to file a reply in personal hearing after which further action would be taken. Source & Full Story.  NetBlocks, a watchdog organization that monitors Internet freedom, tracking cybersecurity, digital governance of the Internet, connectivity, and democracy, confirmed “Live metrics show a nation-scale disruption to X/Twitter across #Pakistan; the incident comes amid political turmoil after a controversial election held under an internet and mobile network blackout.” 
  

• February 08, 2024: Pakistan blocked mobile phones and disrupted the internet for over 12 hours on Election Day. International watchdogs and rights groups like the United Nations human rights body, Amnesty International, and many other rights organizations have called Pakistan for uninterrupted phone and internet service to ensure the fairness of elections. The communication breakups deprived hundreds of thousands of voter of their rights to the franchise as they struggled to find their names in the voting lists, voting staff lacked the information and failed to contact authorities over intimidations and riggings, and Pakistan came to a standstill. In the past, Pakistani authorities repeatedly blocked the internet to enforce censorship of Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Each internet suspension causes colossal damage to the economy. The government of Pakistan said the mobile phone service was suspended due to the loss of the precious lives of people in growing incidents of terrorism and the safety of the citizens. Over forty citizens and law enforcement officers were killed in blasts within a week before Election Day. NewsDesk. 
  

• February 8, 2024: Police officials deployed at a polling station in Lahore barred an Al Jazeera team from entering citing orders from “top management” to not allow any media teams inside the premises. Amid widespread concerns over rigging and manipulation, the Election Commission of Pakistan has issued special passes for observers and journalists granting them permission to “visit polling stations and offices to observe polling and consolidation of results”. Voters are strictly barred from taking mobile phones inside. Source
  

• February 2, 2024: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) blocked Fact Focus, an investigative website focussing on Pakistani affairs. According to Fact Focus, “Eight days ahead of the general elections, Pakistan has blocked the Fact Focus website, an investigative news platform. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issued a notice to Fact Focus on December 21, 2023, claiming their story on former army General Qamar Javed Bajwa's assets was false and based on hearsay. The notice issued more than one year after the publication of General Qamar Bajwa assets story in November 2022. While referring to General Qamar Bajwa story PTA wrote to Fact Focus, “WHEREAS it has been reported to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (the “Authority”) that your Website i.e https://factfocus.com (“Platform”) is hosting content with intent to ridicule, defame the Armed Forces of Pakistan, circulated false reports containing rumors or alarming news to promote ill-will in order to provoke anti-state sentiments, cause disharmony, feelings of enmity among masses at large which is prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of Pakistan.” Fact Focus was in the process of responding to the PTA notice and preparing to release an investigation on the 2024 General Elections on February 03 when the government announced the block. Fact Focus has never propagated anything wrong against Pakistan Army. Fact Focus always reported truth based on facts and documentary evidence. The website came under attack and was taken down. No data or information was compromised. We are making efforts to restore it. However, it will not be available in Pakistan because of the PTA blockade. Undeterred, Fact Focus remains committed to reporting the truth, backed by facts and evidence. Facing censorship, cyberattacks, continuous malicious campaigns by some media houses in Pakistan and legal challenges, Fact Focus vows to fight for freedom of expression and will challenge the PTA's order in courts.”  Source 
  

• January 31, 2024: Multiple online posts claim that authorities have blocked access to the official websites of the political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), ahead of the parliamentary election on February 8. The claim is true. Source and Full Story
  

• January 20, 2024: NetBlocks, a watchdog organization that monitors Internet freedom, tracking cybersecurity, digital governance of the Internet, connectivity, and democracy, confirmed a nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across Pakistan, including X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube; the incident comes as persecuted opposition leader Imran Khan's political party, PTI, launches its second virtual gathering. This is the third time authorities disrupted the internet and social media to censor Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) public interaction and election campaign. Source  On December 17, 2023: NetBlocks, an internet tracking agency on ‘X’, formerly Twitter said, “Metrics show major social media platforms were restricted in #Pakistan for ~7 hours on Sunday evening during an online political gathering; the incident is consistent with previous instances of internet censorship targeting opposition leader Imran Khan and his party PTI." Source  "Confirmed: Live metrics show a nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across #Pakistan, including X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube; the incident comes just ahead of a major virtual gathering organized by persecuted opposition leader Imran Khan's party, PTI." Source  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been dismantled by the Pakistani authorities after the May 9, 2023 attacks on military installations. For details, go to Annual Report 2023  ASSAULTS | ARRESTS | HARASSMENT section and check May 9, 2023, and onwards.

• January 19, 2024: Pakistan State-Owned TV, Pakistan Television (PTV) abruptly suspended the live streaming of a Cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand after the camera captured a fan holding a placard with a picture of the former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, Imran Khan. NewsDesk. Mr. Khan is in jail and Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been dismantled by the Pakistani authorities after the May 9, 2023 attacks on military installations. For details, go to our Annual Report 2023 ASSAULTS | ARRESTS | HARASSMENT section and check May 9, 2023, and onwards. 
  

PLIGHT OF MEDIA AND WORKERS 

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• September 2024: A partisan senior and controversial journalist exploits the rising antisemitism, Israel genocide in Gaza, and the political meltdown in Pakistan to level unfounded allegations against a jailed political leader. The unfortunate dissemination of conspiracy theories and capitalizing on public loath against Israel have emerged as the new tools for ratings, popularity, and gains. NewsDesk 
  

• September 2024: Senior Anchorperson Fiza Akbar Khan, affiliated with private news channel BOL, misconstrued Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Senator Falak Naz, and took to her X account and supplicated Chairman Senate to revoke Ms. Naz as a senator and immediately file a police case. Anchor Khan was reacting to a comment in her show after misunderstanding Senator Naz's point about the existence of Pakistan.  NewsDesk
  

• April 30, 2024: Antisemitism and Hate-Speech by a Pakistani media person.
  

• April 30, 2024: A Pakistani media person defended the surveillance in the bedroom.
  

• February 4, 2024: Daily The Nation has not paid wages to its staff for the last three months. The journalists are on strike, and the newspaper printing the news of the other news agencies using byline staff reporters. The newspaper owed 22 months of wages in all.  Source
  

• February 2, 2024: Pakistan's former journalist and media minister, who bitterly criticized opponents before his induction into the Federal Cabinet as a Federal Caretaker Minister for Information, Broadcasting, and Parliamentary Affairs, allotted himself a plot in Islamabad. Source: According to Journalist Waqar Abbasi, “the allotment violated the seniority list.”
  

• January 23, 2024: The National Press Club (NPC) penned a letter to the Islamabad police on Monday requesting the removal of a Baloch rights camp in the federal capital near the club’s premises. Baloch protesters are currently demonstrating in a sit-in organized in front of the NPC by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. The BYC camp has been established since December 22 and continues to attract more participants despite harsh weather and pressure from law enforcement agencies. Organizers of the Islamabad sit-in have accused the police of harassing their supporters and profiling them as well as registering first information reports against them. Unedited.  Source and Full Story 
  

FREEDOM UNDER ATTACK ON CAMPUSES

• September 29, 2024: At least 25 students were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment in the fight between rival ethnic groups at the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad. Punjabi students led by Rana Hassan and Pashtun students led by Muzammil Marwat used iron rods, chains, and batons to assault the rival students. The campus manager, Lt. Col Nadeem Abbas, filed a police report (First Information Report - FIR). The Secretariat police have registered a case against 380 students under Sections 324 (Attempt to kill), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), 148 (Whoever is guilty of rioting, being armed with a deadly weapon or with anything which, used as a weapon of offense, is likely to cause death), 149 (unlawful assembly for crimes committed in furtherance of the assembly's common object) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and an investigation was underway. NewsDesk
  

•  September 29, 2024: Students affiliated with the Islami Jamiat-e-Talba (IJT), the student wing of Jamat-e-Islami (JI), attacked the Baloch students at the Punjab University. The IJT students armed with iron rods and batons allegedly injured five Baloch students, with two in critical condition. The Baloch students alleged that some IJT attackers were carrying firearms, and the university administration and security sided with the attackers, and the police arrested over a dozen Baloch students. The students alleged the police for racial profiling and arresting the injured Baloch students from hostel rooms. JIT students raised slogans and terrorized the students from other ethnicities. NewsDesk  
  

• September 24, 2024: A 5th-semester female student, Minahil, was killed in an accident caused by the negligence of the bus driver at the Muhammad Nawaz Shareef (MNS) University of Agriculture, Multan, the Punjab province. The bus that killed bike-riding student Minahil belonged to MNS University. The MNS University security told people that no one could touch the body until Vice-Chancellor (VC) Ishtiaq Rijwana reached the campus. On his arrival, the VC refused to hand over the body to her family and blackmailed Minahil's family into signing an affidavit that no legal proceeding or protest would follow over the accident while the dead body of Minahil remained on the road for at least four hours in extreme heat. The VC announced a week-long holiday and evicted the hostels to conceal the facts. Anonymous insiders at the MNS University claimed that the management destroyed the CCTV footage for the cover-up, and VC's name had not been included in the police report (FIR). NewsDesk  
  

• September 17, 2024: The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJKU) banned the students from wearing shirts and jeans. AJKU termed the ban and new dress code rules “dignity and sanctity” of the institution and religious values. The AJKU asked the female for loose clothing, shalwar kameez and dupatta (scarf) or Abaya (covering from shoulders to knees), and the male students for decent dress. The university has issued a long list of dress codes inspired by conservative thoughts, restricting shorts or sleeveless shirts and wearing makeup. NewsDesk
  

• August 31, 2024: The police detained Dr. Riaz Ahmed, an associate professor and syndicate member at the University of Karachi (KU) for eight hours in Karachi. The abduction-styled detention involving three police stations in Karachi, surfaced when his wife spotted his car outside the police station and went into the station to know the situation. The police then immediately took him to another police station and denied the arrest and custody.After returning home, Dr. Riaz told the media that the police released him after fierce backlash on social media, reaction from KU students and his colleagues. His arrest was meant to stop him from attending a Syndicate meeting. He said some elements wanted to postpone the meeting which agenda involved verification of the law degree of sitting High Court Judge Tariq Mahmood Jehangiri Degree. He wrote “The Syndicate is authorized to form a Unfair Means Committee as per Breach of Examination Rules listed on page 431 of KU Code. Instead, in the case of Justice Tariq Mehmood Jehangiri his case was not mentioned on Syndicate agenda and kept secret until Syndicate 1/n.”  He named some board members monopoly of 50 years over the institution and reluctance to include the 40-years old degree legitimacy of the judge in agenda. The Syndicate and Unfair Means Committee had revoked Justice Jehangiri's degree.Dr. Riaz had been raising his voice over external pressure in his X interactions for some time. On September 5, 2024, The Sindh High Court (SHC) annulled the Syndicate and Unfair Means Committee decision. The SHC termed the Syndicate and Unfair Means Committee decision a “violation of Article 10-A of the Constitution” (the right to a fair trial) because the judge was not present to defend him in the Syndicate and Unfair Means Committee. September 23, 2024: The Additional District and Session Judge Javed Iqbal Malik ordered the registration of a police case (FIR) against three police station heads, Station House Officers (SHO) of Bahadurabad, Jamshed Town and Brigade for the illegal detention of Mr. Riaz.  NewsDesk  
  

• August 2024: The Government College University (GCU) Lahore banned students from wearing T-shirts and jeans on campus. The GCU supported the ban with the commitment to upholding and maintaining the institution’s values and a respectful academic environment. The GCU warned the students of disciplinary action for not adhering to no-jeans policy. NewsDesk
  

• August 12, 2024: The Punjab University, Lahore campus suspended a Baloch female student Sadia Baloch. According to Ms. Sadia verified X feed, “Punjab University, Lahore has issued my suspension orders applying allegations that I, the miscreant student, have used university platform to pollute students minds against state institutions. And that my conduct has badly injured the reputation & integrity of the educational institute. It's to be noted that this notice deliberately renders to a protest that was held 2 months back and reads the date of issuance as June 14. While I'm receiving this letter on August 12, 2024 when I myself went to check for it. I wasn't even issued a charge sheet prior to this. So it's clear that it has been issued post the Raaji Muchi participation deliberately putting previous dates. This depicts that not only state is targeting the participants of Raaji Muchi with its forces and authorities but even the educational institutions are not giving any exception in punishing the Baloch students for peaceful politics.” The inappropriate language and words used against me, being a female Baloch student, are in itself a question mark to the institute's socalled discipline and values. This intentional attempt prior to a week before my annual exams, is to harm my educational career and a heinous attack on my personal & moral character. The institue must follow up the negotiations signed by the state with BYC.Punjab University must cancel this suspension letter and take its baseless allegations back.” She added, “I must clear that I'm not allowed to sit in the exams cuz the Roll No slips were issued yesterday but mine's still detained under previous malicious order. @PU_OfficialPK ,under pressure, may have "circulated" a so-called notification allowing me take the exams upon certain "unjustifiable conditions" but it didn't implement it! For me this notification again was a news in the air cuz I wasn't directly contacted by the administration. The malicious behavior of administration is not trustable. It's dark tactics are direct attack on my fundamental & constitutional rights and a threat to other student's rights. As last abode, I've filed a petition in the Lahore High Court against the unconstitutional behavior and unlawful authority of Punjab University administration. I would persue my case legally to avoid blackmailing and conditional exceptions.” Scroll up to the section TARGETING DISSENTS, RIGHTS MOVEMENTS, ACTIVISTS, AND PROTESTERS for the details of Raji Muchi. NewsDesk
  

• May 2, 2024: LOWER DIR: The Government Postgraduate College, Timergara, has formally directed its female students not to “take part in political gatherings, birthday parties and other extra-curricular activities” on the way to the campus and returning home. The directions issued by the college’s chief proctor, Prof Riaz Mohammad, were circulated the other day. He also asked the parents of girl students to stay in contact with the administration to help improve academic standards. When contacted, chief proctor of the college Prof Riaz Mohammad justified the move, saying it was in the “best interests” of girl students and in line with local customs. He said several unpleasant incidents were reported in some colleges with co-education, so his college took the initiative to prevent them.  Source and Full Story 

​CORRELATED NEWS  The following links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they may not constitute an affiliation with FreedomTalk.Net. Links are not endorsements; Freedomtalk.net may not agree to the full part(s) of the contents of the articles, blogs, and opinions. Links open in a separate window.

• October 14, 2024: FIRST SINDHI LANGUAGE POETESS HONOURED
  

• October 13, 2024: OF BLASPHEMY ALLEGATIONS AND MURDERERS, SAVIOURS AND DEFIANCE - SOCIETY: DEFYING THE MOB 
  

• October 12, 2024: 101 KILLED IN NAME OF HONOUR 
  

• October 11, 2024: SC DEFINES QADIANIS CONSTITUTIONAL STATUS
  

• October 11, 2024: GEO NEWS GETS BEST NEWS CHANNEL AWARD
  

• October 09, 2024: AEMEND DENOUNCES 'ILLEGAL NOTICES' TO TV CHANNELS OVER KARACHI TERROR ATTACK COVERAGE 
  

• October 9, 2024: PAKISTAN: X REJECTED CONTENT TAKEDOWN REQUESTS, CLAIMS GOVT OFFICIAL
  

• October 7, 2024: DANGEROUS TRAP BLASPHEMY 
  

• October 5, 2024: DAWNMEDIA LAUNCHING ‘BREATHE PAKISTAN’ TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE 
  

• October 1, 2024: PTA CHAIRMAN REVEALS WHO ORDERED BAN ON 'X', INTERNET SHUTDOWNS IN PAKISTAN 
  

• September 26, 2024: IHC QUESTIONS ISPR’S ‘ROLE’ IN DESIGNATING DEFENCE ANALYSTS
  

• September 25, 2024: STATEMENT OF A POTENTIAL FEMALE SUICIDE BOMBER - URDU
  

• September 25, 2024: ‘OUTDATED’ LAWS DON’T PROTECT DIGITAL MEDIA WORKERS: REPORT 
  

• September 24, 2024: PAKISTAN’S INTERNET CRISIS: MINISTER REVEALS REAL PROBLEM BEHIND SLUGGISH SPEEDS! 
  

• September 24, 2024: IN ‘EXTRAORDINARY TIMES’, NEWS MEDIA VOWS TO DEFEND THE TRUTH, HONOUR SACRED BOND WITH AUDIENCE - A SHARED TRUTH, A SACRED BOND
  

• September 23, 2024: ISRAELI NEWSPAPER PUTS IMRAN IN A TIGHT SPOT
  

• September 22, 2024: GRAND PEACE JIRGA BACKS PAKISTAN ARMY IN FIGHT AGAINST FITNA AL-KHAWARIJ
  

• September 21, 2024: POLICE NATIONWIDE BANNED FROM SOCIAL MEDIA ON DUTY 
  

• September 18, 2024: FACT-CHECK: PTA LAWYER FALSELY CLAIMS BAN ON X HAS BEEN LIFTED
  

• September 16, 2024: ALARM OVER RISE IN BRINGING KIDS TO BALOCHISTAN SIT-INS
  

• September 16, 2024: VAWDA, KAMAL PRESSERS: SC URGES MEDIA TO ADOPT SELF-ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS
  

• September 14, 2024: PAKISTAN RANKED IN TOP TIERS OF GLOBAL CYBERSECURITY INDEX: MINISTER
  

• September 13, 2024: SINDH COMMISSION FOR PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS CHAIRPERSON RESIGNS 
  

• September 13, 2024: AFTER UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY: SC DISPOSES OF SHOW-CAUSE NOTICE TO TV CHANNELS 
  

• September 12, 2024: BLA-TTP COLLABORATION IN BALOCHISTAN: ALLIANCE OR ANOMALY?
  

• September 11, 2024: COMMENT: RULING ELITE SHOULD RE-EXAMINE ITS ATTITUDE, BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE 
  

• September 11, 2024: GOVT NOTIFIES 137 NAMES PUT ON FOURTH SCHEDULE FOR ALLEGED LINKS TO BLA, TTP 
  

•  September 05, 2024: CABINET GRANTS SPECIAL POWERS TO SECURITY FORCES IN BALOCHISTAN
  

• September 02, 2024: GOVT BANS CIVIL SERVANTS FROM SPEAKING ON MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
  

• August 2024: FREEDOM OF AFGHAN MEDIA - CHALLENGES FACING AFGHAN JOURNALISTS IN AFGHANISTAN AND ABROAD 
  

• August 30, 2024: FACT CHECK: VIRAL VIDEO DOES NOT SHOW MUSLIMS BEATING CHRISTIAN IN PAKISTAN; IS FROM INDIA’S BHOPAL IN 2022 
  

• August 28, 2024: WEB MONITORING SYSTEM BEING USED FOR BLOCKING ONLINE CONTENT IN PAKISTAN, REVEALS MINISTER 
  

• August 28, 2024: IN PAKISTAN’S BALOCHISTAN, DEADLY ATTACKS RIP UNEASY MIGRANT-LOCAL EQUATION
  

• August 27, 2024: INTERNET SHUTDOWN CAUSED RS65BN LOSS TO PAKISTAN IN 2023
  

• August 23, 2024: PM SHEHBAZ URGED TO INTERVENE AS SLUGGISH INTERNET BLEEDS ECONOMY
  

• August 22, 2024: PTA ADMITS SETTING UP FIREWALL TO MANAGE SOCIAL MEDIA
  

• August 21, 2024: PAKISTAN AUTHORITIES CHARGE MAN WITH CYBER TERRORISM OVER MISINFORMATION THAT SPARKED RIOTS IN UK 
  

• August 21, 2024: 6000 BOOKED FOR ENTERING THE RED ZONE 
  

• August 20 2024: BANDWIDTH BANDITS: INTERNET REGULATION RIDDLE STRIKES VPNS IN PAKISTAN
  

• August 19, 2024: THE COST OF CUTTING CONNECTIVITY 
  

• August 18, 2024: VICTIMS OF CHAGAI EXECUTIONS IDENTIFIED AS AFGHAN NATIONALS 
  

• August 18, 2024: PAKISTANI FREELANCERS, FIREWALLED FROM PROSPERITY
  

• August 16, 2024: ‘MONSOON BRIDES’: EXTREME WEATHER FUELS CHILD MARRIAGES IN SINDH
  

• August 16, 2024: PAK E-LANCERS IN A QUANDARY
  

• August 15, 2024: PAKISTAN IS USING SURVEILLANCE SERVICES FROM 15 COMPANIES INCLUDING ISRAELI TO SPY ON CITIZENS: STUDY
  

• August 15, 2024: INTERNET SLOWDOWN PERSISTS IN PAKISTAN AMID SOCIAL MEDIA USERS’ OUTCRY 
  

• August 11, 2024: RULERS STRUGGLING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
  

• August 08, 2024: SC ADJOURNS HARASSMENT OF JOURNALISTS CASE FOR INDEFINITE PERIOD 
  

• August 08, 2024: FACT CHECK: VIRAL IMAGE OF SHIA VICTIMS’ COFFINS IN PARACHINAR IS FROM 2009 KARACHI PROCESSION
  

• August 08, 2024: SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS GENDER DISPARITY IN SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE IN PAKISTAN 
  

• August 07, 2024: SENATE PANEL REVIEWS JOURNALIST PROTECTION BILL 
  

• August 06, 2024: DR UMAR ADIL ARRESTED FOR INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS AGAINST FEMALE ANCHORS 
  

• August 04, 2024: PEMRA STOPS TV CHANNELS FROM MOCKING POLICE IN SKITS 
  

• August 04, 2024: 92 NEWS SHUTS DOWN IN UK OVER MARYAM NAWAZ DEFAMATION CASE 
  

• August 04, 2024: GUNS, PILLS AND HAUNTED PRESS CLUBS 
  

• August 02, 2024: GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL AID FOR FAMILIES OF MISSING PERSONS
  

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• August 02, 2024: PASSPORTS NOW MUST FOR TRUCKERS COMING FROM AFGHANISTAN, SAYS FOREIGN SECRETARY
  

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• August 02, 2024: GUNS N’ ROSES: WHY ‘PARADISE ON EARTH’ PARACHINAR DESCENDS INTO HELL EVERY FEW YEARS
  

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• August 02, 2024: SECRET PAKISTANI PROGRAM DIRECTS MILITARY OFFICERS TO ATTACK SOCIAL MEDIA CRITICS AND "DIGITAL TERRORISTS"
  
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• August 02, 2024: PLAN IN WORKS TO LIMIT VPN USE: PTA CHIEF
  

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• August 02, 2024: ARE JUDICIAL POLITICS GOVERNING SC FUNCTIONS?
  

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• August 01, 2024: WHERE IS TLP CLERIC WHO HURLED THREAT?
  

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• July 31, 2024: MISSING PERSONS CASES: IHC TERMS CONTINUING ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES ‘COMPLETE FAILURE OF GOVT’
  

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• July 31, 2024: TELEVISION CHANNELS THROW THEMSELVES AT SC'S MERCY
  

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• July 31, 2024: PAKISTAN FORMALLY BANS HAFIZ GUL BAHADUR GROUP, MAJID BRIGADE
  

• July 30, 2024: TLP LEADER ARRESTED FOR ISSUING DEATH THREATS TO CJ 
  

• July 27, 2024: MUBARAK SANI CASE: SC UPHOLDS RIGHTS OF AHMADIS WITH CONDITIONS, REJECTS BAIL ANNULMENT
  

• July 27, 2024: FACT CHECK: GOVT HAS DESIGNATED ISLAMABAD COURTS FOR PECA OFFENCES, NOT SPECIAL COURTS FOR ‘DIGITAL TERRORISTS’
  

• July 27, 2024: GOVT FORMS 5-MEMBER JIT TO PROBE ANTI-STATE PROPAGANDA, MALICIOUS CONTENT
  

• July 26, 2024: SCOTLAND YARD DROPS INVESTIGATION AGAINST NAWAZ, MARYAM IN ARSHAD SHARIF MURDER CASE 
  

• July 25, 2024: UN-BACKED INDEPENDENT EXPERTS URGE PAKISTAN TO END DISCRIMINATION, VIOLENCE AGAINST MINORITY AHMADIS
  

• July 25, 2024:PECA COURTS TO CONCLUDE TRIAL IN THREE MONTHS
  

• July 24, 2024: ‘NEITHER DEAD NOR ALIVE’: THE BALOCH WOMEN’S FIGHT AGAINST ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES 
  

• July 21, 2024: RIGHTS: THE GREAT FIREWALL OF PAKISTAN
  

• July 21, 2024: DISRUPTION IN WHATSAPP SERVICES ACROSS PAKISTAN
  

• July 20, 2024: MERGER AND A MANACLED MEDIA
  

• July 17, 2024: FACEBOOK DOWN ON MULTIPLE ISPS IN PAKISTAN, USERS AND OBSERVERS SAY
  

• July 11, 2024: 27 PROMINENT ULEMAS FACE SERMON BAN DURING MUHARRAM 
  

• July 11, 2024: UN: AFGHAN TALIBAN INCREASE SUPPORT FOR ANTI-PAKISTAN TTP TERRORISTS
  

• July 09, 2024: TIKTOK REMOVES 20M VIDEO CLIPS IN PAKISTAN 
  

• July 09, 2024: KENYA COURT RULES POLICE KILLING OF ARSHAD SHARIF UNLAWFUL 
  

• July 07, 2024: KISAN TV TO BE LAUNCHED TO HELP FARMERS COMBAT EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 
  

• July 07, 2024: RISE IN MISSING PERSONS’ CASES: PHC SUMMONS KP CM TO EXPLAIN POSITION
  

• July 06, 2024: GOVT GAVE RS16BN ADS TO MEDIA IN FIVE YEARS, SENATE TOLD
  

• July 06, 2024: WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ENCRYPTED DATA FLOWING THROUGH PAKISTAN’S NETWORKS? - THE PRIVACY MYTH
  

• July 05, 2024: CHURCH IN PAKISTAN PLEADS FOR CHRISTIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BLASPHEMY  - JARANWALA 
  

• July 05, 2024: NA SPEAKER, NAB CHAIRMAN AGREE ON PROTECTING MNAS FROM ARBITRARY ARREST
  

• July 05, 2024:MUHARRAM SECURITY: PUNJAB GOVT SEEKS SUSPENSION OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS 
  

• July 04, 2024: CM MARYAM CALLS FOR POLICE ACTION AGAINST BLASPHEMY SUSPECTS INSTEAD OF USING ALLEGATIONS FOR ‘SETTLING SCORES’
  

• July 03, 2024: IMPLEMENTING A SYSTEM TO SPY ON ONE’S OWN PEOPLE IS A PERVERSE ABUSE OF POWER - ORWELLIAN STATE 
  

• July 03, 2024: BILL TO REGULATE SOCIAL MEDIA
  

• July 02, 2024: JOURNALISTS UNDER A CLIMATE SIEGE 
  

• July 02, 2024: THE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM KEEPING TABS ON MILLIONS 
  

• July 01, 2024: SUPREME COURT ISSUES FRESH SHOW-CAUSE NOTICES TO 34 TV CHANNELS AMID CONTEMPT CASE; ASKED TO SUBMIT EARNING DETAILS 
  

• June 28, 2024: TARAR ASSURES TO FORM COMMITTEE ON JOURNALISTS PROTECTION 
  

• June 26, 2024: PTA PROPOSES LICENSES FOR STREAMING PLATFORMS INLCUDING NETFLIX, YOUTUBE 
  

• June 25, 2024: PAKISTANI JOURNALIST HONOURED: KAMAL SIDDIQI RECEIVES 'JOURNALISTS OF COURAGE & IMPACT AWARD' IN MANILA
  

• June 23, 2024: THE LOST VOICE OF JOURNALISM  
  

• June 23, 2024: RESOLUTION CALLING FOR ACTION OVER VIOLENCE AGAINST MINORITIES PASSED IN NA 
  

• June 21, 2024: SEVERAL AHMADIS DETAINED BY POLICE FOR VIOLATING CONSTITUTION: GUJRANWALA CPO
  

• June 14, 2024: INDIGNITY, DISEASE, DEATH: THE LIFE OF A SEWERAGE WORKER IN PAKISTAN
  

• June 13, 2024: LTN FAMILY GIVEN 30-DAY TIME TO CLEAR JOURNALISTS’ DUES
  

• June 12, 2024: PASSPORTS NOT TO BE ISSUED TO PAKISTANIS SEEKING ASYLUM ABROAD
  

• June 12, 2024: BUDGET 2024-25: GOVT ANNOUNCES HEALTH INSURANCE FOR JOURNALISTS 
  

• June 11, 2024: RELIGIOUS MINORITIES HAVE BEEN MADE INVISIBLE IN OUR ELECTORAL POLITICS - MINORITY RIGHTS
  

• June 09, 2024: FIGHTING FAKE NEWS 
  

• June 08, 2024: ACTING PUNJAB GOVERNOR SIGNS DEFAMATION BILL INTO LAW
  

• June 07, 2024: ADDRESSING CONTEMPT - ERRANT LAWMAKERS MUST PAY A PRICE FOR THEIR AD HOMINEM ATTACKS AGAINST JUDICIARY 
  

• June 07, 2024: FIREWALL BEING INSTALLED TO REIN IN SOCIAL MEDIA 
  

• June 07, 2024: SC HARDENS STANCE OVER CONTEMPT - Observers note CJP Isa's shift on press freedom since taking office 
  

• June 05, 2024: SC ISSUES CONTEMPT NOTICE TO 34 NEWS CHANNELS FOR AIRING FAISAL VAWDA AND MUSTAFA KAMAL’S SPEECHES 
  

• June 05, 2024: CHRISTIAN SANITATION WORKER BRUTALLY TORTURED IN PAKISTAN 
  

• June 03, 2024: GREEN JOURNALIST AWARDS RECOGNITION TO MEDIA SERVICES HIGHLIGHTING CLIMATE ACTION: ROMINA 
  

• June 03, 2024: PAKISTANI MEDIA IN SPOTLIGHT: LIST EXPOSES ALLEGED BAHRIA TOWN PAYMENTS TO JOURNALISTS 
  

• June 02, 2024: BAHRIA TOWN DENIES PAYING JOURNALISTS AFTER ‘FAKE LIST’ SURFACES 
  

• June 01, 2024: ISLAMABAD HIGH COURT QUESTIONS LEGALITY OF TELECOM SURVEILLANCE AMIDST AUDIO LEAK SCANDAL 
  

• June 01, 2024: LABELLING CRITICS AS ‘DIGITAL TERRORISTS’ IS UNLIKELY TO BEAR RESULTS - ANOTHER APPROACH 
  

• May 29, 2024: CHRISTIAN SANITATION WORKER TORTURED IN PAKISTAN
  

• May 27, 2024: OF MOB VIOLENCE AND RELIGIOUS LYNCHING 
  

• May 27, 2024: FACT-CHECK: GOVT COLLEGE IN KP RESTRICTS FEMALE STUDENTS' PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
  

• May 26, 2024: JOURNALIST AND ATHLETE MONA KHAN RELEASED BY GREEK AUTHORITIES, FO CONFIRMS 
  

• May 23, 2024: SINDH GOVT TO BEAR EXPENSES FOR TREATMENT OF INJURED JOURNALIST, SAYS SHARJEEL 
  

• May 22, 2024: ANTI-FAKE NEWS OR ANTI-FREE SPEECH? THE DEBATE OVER PUNJAB’S NEW DEFAMATION LAW
  

• May 21, 2024: MILITARY TRIALS OF CIVILIANS ‘NO-NO’ IN INTERNATIONAL LAW 
  

• May 21, 2024: OUTCRY OVER ‘DRACONIAN’ BILL PASSED BY PUNJAB ASSEMBLY 
  

• May 21, 2024: PAKISTAN’S LEADING RIGHTS BODY EXPRESSES ‘GRAVE CONCERN’ AS PUNJAB PASSES DEFAMATION LAW 
  

• May 20, 2024: MINISTRY, PTA REFUSE TO DISCLOSE DETAILS OF CONTROVERSIAL INTERNET FIREWALL 
  

• May 19, 2024: CLASSROOM OF INJUSTICE - Poverty and lack of facilities has put many children belonging to the Christian community in Punjab out of school
  

• May 19, 2024: SC SAYS AIRING, PUBLISHING CONTEMPT MATERIAL MAY ALSO CONSTITUTE COURT CONTEMPT
  

• May 17, 2024:NEW SECURITY SOPS FOR PARLIAMENT HOUSE: NON-ESSENTIAL PEOPLE, VIDEOS BANNED  
  

• May 17, 2024: PROPOSED SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATORY AUTHORITY: GOVT DECIDES TO CONSULT STAKEHOLDERS 
  

• May 17, 2024: THOSE INVOLVED IN ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES SHOULD BE SENTENCED TO DEATH: IHC JUDGE 
  

• May 17, 2024: MEMON DISTRIBUTES HEALTH CARDS TO JOURNALISTS; PROMISES INCREASE IN GRANTS
  

• May 14, 2024: SC DEEMS INVESTIGATION INTO ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS ‘UNSATISFACTORY’
  

• May 13, 2024: OFFICIAL SECRET ACT TO BE ENFORCED AGAINST PEOPLE SHARING CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS’PECA 
  

• May 11, 2024: PAK PRESIDENT ZARDARI GETS IMMUNITY IN TWO CORRUPTION CASES 
  

• May 10, 2024: NAB BARRED FROM ARRESTING MPS 
  

• May 10, 2024: SPYWARE ATTACKS INCREASED BY 300% IN PAKISTAN 
  

• May 09, 2024: BALOCH STUDENTS WANT END TO ‘FORCED DISAPPEARANCE’ 
  

• May 09, 2024: SPECIAL REPORT: MAY 9, MAYHEM AND MILITARY TRIALS — A YEAR ON
  

• May 09, 2024: CITIZENS DEMAND CANCELLATION OF B-FORM CONDITION FOR E-DOMICILES
  

• May 04, 2024: SHARJEEL OFFERS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO JOURNALIST BODIES
  

• May 03, 2024: FEDERAL GOVT ESTABLISHES NEW AGENCY TO TACKLE CYBERCRIME CASES 
  

• May 02, 2024: SURGE IN MILITANT ATTACKS IN APRIL, DECLINE IN HUMAN IMPACT VS MARCH 
  

• May 02, 2024: LEGAL ACTION, ARRESTS, CONTINUED ATTACKS, INTERNET CLOSURES AND REGULATION — A HINDERED AND RESTRICTED MEDIA COVER AN ELECTION YEAR IN PAKISTAN
  

• April 30, 2024: CHANGING TECHNOLOGY AND CHANGING JIHADI STRATEGIES – Urdu Read 
  

• April 23, 2024: WHAT'S BEHIND THE DEADLY SURGE OF VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN'S BALOCHISTAN?
  

• April 21, 2024: TRANS PERSONS CONTINUE TO FACE OSTRACISATION AFTER DEATH 
  

• April 27, 2024: CENSORSHIP AND DISINFORMATION
  

• April 20, 2024: FAMILY PURSUES JUSTICE FOR CHRISTIAN TEEN KIDNAPPED, FORCED TO CONVERT AND MARRY IN PAKISTAN 
  

• April 17, 2024: X CLOSURE IN PAKISTAN: INTERIOR MINISTRY ORDERED TO REVOKE DIRECTIVES WITHIN WEEK
  

• April 17, 2024: OVER 1.25M URLS BLOCKED OVER OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT, PTA TELLS SHC 
  

• April 16, 2024: GRIEVING FAMILY OF FALLEN SANITARY WORKERS CALLS FOR COMPENSATION AND IMPROVED SAFETY MEASURES
  

• April 11, 2024: PAKISTAN: UN EXPERTS ALARMED BY LACK OF PROTECTION FOR MINORITY GIRLS FROM FORCED RELIGIOUS CONVERSIONS AND FORCED MARRIAGE 
  

• April 09, 2024: ALLEGED CORRUPTION IN JUDICIARY: PHC DIRECTS TI TO REPUBLISH 2023 REPORT BASED ON FACTS 
  

• April 07, 2024: GEO, THE NEWS LONDON REPORTER ON INDIAN RAW'S HIT LIST: REPORT 
  

• April 03, 2024: HRCP RELEASES ANNUAL REPORT ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS - June 2022 to July 2023 
  

• April 03, 2024: X CLOSURE: GOVT SAYS CONTENT ON INTERNET THREATENS NATIONAL SECURITY
  

• April 02, 2024:PAKISTAN: CALL ON SUPREME COURT TO DROP CHARGES AGAINST BLASPHEMY ACCUSED ANWAR KENNETH 
  

• April 01, 2024: TIKTOK CRACKS DOWN ON 18.5M REELS FOR VIOLATING ITS GUIDELINES IN PAKISTAN 
  

• April 01, 2024: POLICE LAUNCH PROBE INTO GUJJAR KHAN CHURCH BURNING 
  

• Mar 31, 2024: PUNJAB TO MONITOR ELECTRONIC MEDIA WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
  

• March 28, 2024: HARASSMENT CASE: SC RESTRAINS FIA FROM ARRESTING JOURNALISTS TILL NEXT HEARING
  

• March 27, 2024: FIA TO WITHDRAW CASES AGAINST JOURNALISTS IMRAN SHAFQAT AND AMIR MIR, AGP ASSURES SUPREME COURT  
  

• March 28. 2024: UNILEVER AND KARACHI PRESS CLUB COLLABORATE FOR CLIMATE JOURNALISM CAPACITY-BUILDING 
  

• March 27, 2024: HRCP ALARMED BY SPY AGENCIES' INTERFERENCE IN JUDICIARY 
  

• March 25, 2024: PAKISTAN: FAMILY OF ABDUCTED 13-YEAR-OLD CHRISTIAN GIRL IN MULTAN CHALLENGES FORCED CONVERSION 
  

• March 24, 2024: 170 WORKERS QUIT ‘NATIONALISTIC’ POLITICS
  

• March 22, 2024: PAKISTAN: ALARMING GENDER INEQUALITY IN ISLAMABAD’S MEDIA ECOSYSTEM STUDY FINDS
  

• March 22, 2024: FACT-CHECK: PAKISTAN TO EXPEL REFUGEES HOLDING AFGHAN CITIZEN CARDS 
  

• March 22, 2024: A WALK THROUGH PAKISTAN’S HALL OF SHAME: ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES IN BALOCHISTAN
  

• March 21, 2024: X BANNED IN COUNTRY SINCE FEB 17 ON SPY AGENCIES’ REPORTS, SHC TOLD
  

• March 19. 2024: 462 SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS BLOCKED FOR SPREADING RELIGIOUS, ETHNIC HATRED
  

• March 18, 2024: IN PAKISTAN, ARREST OF POPULAR JOURNALIST POSES FRESH THREAT TO VIBRANT MEDIA LANDSCAPE 
  

• March 17, 2024: TARAR VOWS ACTION AGAINST THOSE RUNNING SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN AGAINST MARTYRS
  

• March 15, 2024: PAKISTAN: CIVIL SOCIETY JOINT STATEMENT RESPONDING TO NETWORK SHUTDOWNS AND PLATFORM BLOCKING
  

• March 13, 2024: PTI’S FAISAL JAVED INDICTED IN JOURNALIST MISBEHAVIOR CASE 
  

• March 12, 2024: AFGHAN WOMEN JOURNALISTS UNDER THE TALIBAN
  

• March 08, 2024: X FACTOR: TWITTER BAN HITS BUSINESSES, NEWS IN PAKISTAN
  

• March 07, 2024: CCP WARNS SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS AGAINST DECEPTIVE MARKETING PRACTICES, VOWS STRICT ACTION
  

• March 07, 2024: OVER 90PC FORM 45 NOT SIGNED BY POLLING AGENTS...IN 2018 ELECTIONS 
  

• March 06, 2024: DODGING CENSORSHIP: VPN DEMAND SURGES ‘6,000% IN PAKISTAN’
  

•  March 06, 2024: IT IS TROUBLING TO NOTE HOW PTV CONTINUES TO CENSOR ‘OTHER’ VOICES - SELECTIVE BROADCASTING
  

• March 05, 2024: GENERAL ELECTION 2024 RECORDS LOWEST FAIRNESS SCORE SINCE 2013: PILDAT 
  

• March 04, 2024:EXPERTS WARN OF ECONOMIC IMPACT AS PAKISTAN SUFFERS SOCIAL MEDIA BAN AMID ELECTION ALLEGATIONS
  

• March 04, 2024: IS TIKTOK’S 'MYSTERY VIRUS' A REAL THREAT OR SOCIAL MEDIA MISINFORMATION FAD? 
  

• March 02, 2024: PAKISTANI BROTHERS ACCUSED OF BLASPHEMY RELEASED
  

• February 26, 2024: SITUATIONER: HOW IS X BEING THROTTLED IN PAKISTAN?
  

• February 21, 2024: CAN PTA REMOVE ‘IMMORAL CONTENT’ FROM SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITES?
  

• February 20, 2024: RIGGING PETITIONS DROP 340PC
  

• February 20, 2024:POLICE ELEVATES JOURNALIST COLLABORATION FOR PUBLIC TRUST
  

• February 18, 2024: CYBER THREATS SURGE BY 17% IN PAKISTAN IN 2023, GLOBAL RESEARCH REVEALS 
  

• February 18, 2024: FEB 8 POLLS FAILED TO BRING POLITICAL STABILITY NEEDED TO DEAL WITH PAKISTAN’S ECONOMIC CHALLENGES
  

• February 17, 2024:A TAINTED ELECTION PAKISTAN AT THE POLLS 
  

• February 16, 2024: EIU DEMOCRACY INDEX: PAKISTAN DOWNGRADED FURTHER — NOW CLASSIFIED AS 'AUTHORITARIAN REGIME'
  

• February 15, 2024: BUJ TO MOVE COURTS AGAINST WRONGFUL TERMINATION OF JOURNALISTS
  

• February 14, 2024: PAKISTAN PRESS FOUNDATION CONDEMNS SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST JOURNALISTS IN PAKISTAN’S POST-ELECTION TURMOIL
  

• February 13, 2024: PAKISTAN: POLITICAL PARTIES AND SUPPORTERS TARGET JOURNALISTS FOR UNBIASED ELECTION COVERAGE
  

• February 13, 2024S: 27 WOMEN CANDIDATES WON FEBRUARY 8 POLLS — 11 MORE THAN 2018 
  

• February 12, 2024: PML(N) CYBERBULLYING TARGETS FEMALE JOURNALISTS 
  

• February 12, 2024: WHY NAWAZ SHARIF FAILED TO WIN PAKISTAN ELECTION DESPITE TACIT ARMY SUPPORT
  

• February 10, 2024: FAFEN PRELIMINARY ELECTION OBSERVATION REPORT OF GENERAL ELECTION 2024
  

• February 11, 2024: WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE ELECTIONS THAT WERE EVERYTHING BUT PREDICTABLE
  

• February 11, 2024: U.S. LAWMAKERS TELL BIDEN NOT TO ACCEPT PAKISTAN ELECTION RESULTS
  

• February 9, 2024: JOURNALISTS CENSURE ECP FOR ‘FARCICAL FAILURE’ IN DELIVERING RESULTS, LAUD PTI FOR DEMONSTRATING ‘POWER OF VOTE’
  

• February 9, 2024: GOVT SAYS 56 INCIDENTS REPORTED ON ELECTION DAY DESPITE SUSPENSION OF CELLULAR SERVICES
  

• February 9, 2024: ELECTIONS IN PAKISTAN
  

• February 9, 2024: PAKISTAN: STATEMENT BY THE HIGH REPRESENTATIVE ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ON THE GENERAL ELECTIONS 
  

• February 9, 2024: CELLPHONE, INTERNET SERVICES SHUTDOWN DENT PAKISTAN'S MOST EXPENSIVE ELECTION 
  

• February 8, 2024: PAKISTAN: ELECTION-DAY INTERNET SHUTDOWN IS A RECKLESS ATTACK ON PEOPLE’S RIGHTS
  

• February 7, 2024: SOCIAL MEDIA ELECTION: DIGITAL PLATFORMS TAKE CENTERSTAGE IN CAMPAIGN STRATEGY FOR PAKISTAN 2024 POLLS
  

• February 7, 2024: RANKING THE 5 ‘DIRTIEST’ ELECTIONS IN PAKISTAN HISTORY 
  

• February 7, 2024: MEDIA AND MENTAL HEALTH
  

• February 7, 2024:HOW RELIGIOUS DOES YOUR PARTY HAVE TO BE TO WIN AN ELECTION IN PAKISTAN?
  

• February 6, 2024: PAKISTAN: SUPREME COURT RELEASES ON BAIL AN AHMADI MUSLIM DETAINED FOR DISTRIBUTING PROSCRIBED COMMENTARY ON HOLY  QURAN 
  

• February 6, 2024: HOW IMRAN KHAN IS CAMPAIGNING FROM JAIL IN PAKISTAN: AI AND COVERT CANVASSING 
  

• February 6, 2024: UN BODY, AMNESTY CALL FOR INTERNET ACCESS, FAIR PAKISTAN POLLS AS KHAN PARTY BEMOANS ‘HARASSMENT’
  

• February 6, 2024: MEDIA HELPLINE LAUNCHED FOR QUICK REDRESSAL OF JOURNALISTS’ COMPLAINTS: SOLANGI
  

• February 3, 2024: EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON ELECTIONS 
  

• February 2, 2024: GENEVA ENGAGE AWARDS: PAKISTANI MISSION RANKED FIRST FOR SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT
  

•  February 1, 2024: ECP PREPARES ELECTION CODE OF CONDUCT DRAFT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA
  

• February 1, 2024: PAKISTAN IS VIOLATING ITS INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS BY EXCLUDING AHMADIS FROM ELECTIONS 
  

• February 1, 2024: 37 BRITISH JOURNALISTS ISSUED VISAS TO COVER PAKISTAN ELECTIONS
  

• January 31, 2024: FACT-CHECK: YES, PTI’S WEBSITES BLOCKED IN PAKISTAN AHEAD OF POLLS
  

• January 29, 2024: CJP DIRECTS GOVT TO STOP ACTION AGAINST JOURNALISTS CRITICISING SC
  

• January 29, 2024: ECP DISPELS FALSE FATWA AGAINST WOMEN VOTING
  

• January 29, 2024: PAKISTAN’S UNTOLD WAR: NO JUSTICE FOR BALOCHISTAN’S DISAPPEARED 
  

• January 29, 2024: ANCHORPERSON ASHFAQ ISHAQ SATTI BOOKED OVER ALLEGATION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WIFE 
  

• January 24, 2024: A FIRST-HAND RUN-IN WITH PAKISTAN’S DANGEROUS BLASPHEMY OBSESSION
  

• January 23, 2024:TIKTOK ANNOUNCES MEASURES TO COMBAT MISINFORMATION, HATE SPEECH AHEAD OF PAKISTAN ELECTIONS
  

• January 23, 2024: PAKISTAN GRANTS SPECIAL PERMITS TO INTERNATIONAL MEDIA FOR ELECTION COVERAGE 
  

• January 22, 2024: EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES CLOSED IN ISLAMABAD AMID TERROR THREAT: SOURCES 
  

• January 21, 2024:REPRESENTATIVES OF PRESS CLUBS, UNIONS FORM ALLIANCE TO RESIST RESTRICTIONS ON MEDIA IN PAKISTAN 
  

• January 21, 2024: COALITION FORMED TO ENSURE FREE MEDIA  
  

• January 21, 2024: FIVE MORE BODIES FOUND IN NORTH WAZIRISTAN
  

• January 17, 2024:MEDIA IN PAKISTAN MORE ‘FREER’ THAN IN WEST: PM KAKAR
  

• January 15, 2024:ARE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS READY TO COUNTER MISINFORMATION?
  

• January 14, 2024:REGRESSION OF MEDIA IN PAKISTAN
  

• January 12, 2024: JOURNALIST AZIZ MEMON’S KILLER ARRESTED IN KHAIRPUR 
  

• January 9, 2024: HIGHEST NUMBER OF 3,485 MISSING PERSONS REPORTED FROM KP: REPORT 
  

• January 4, 2024: AUTHORITIES REARRESTED MANZOOR PASHTEEN AFTER A COURT GRANTED HIM BAIL
  

• January 03, 2024:PFUJ DECRIES PEMRA FOR BANNING ELECTION SURVEYS 
  

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