The IFJ has protested to the President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf in the following letter:
1 September 2003
General Pervez Musharraf
President and Chief Executive of Pakistan
Via Email: [email protected]
CC.
Federal Minister Information and Broadcasting
Mr. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed
Via Email: [email protected]
Dear General Musharraf,
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation of journalists representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, is deeply concerned over the arrest of journalists Nadeem Panhwar, Hakim Chandio, Sharif Abro, Irfan Burfat, Shahid Khushk and Haji Khan Sial in Hyderabad, Pakistan.
According to our information, on 26 August the six journalists were arrested under the terrorism act, and were charged with for disturbing the peace and for violent acts
The journalists were covering a demonstration organised by the women's branch of the Sindh Chandia Welfare Association, which coincided with the arrival of your Excellency at Mehran University in Jamshoro, where you addressed a meeting of vice-chancellors.
According to our information journalists throughout the Sindh province have been deeply outraged over the arrests and on the 28th August staged a walkout and informed provincial ministers about the arrests whilst covering the Sindh Assembly proceedings.
The IFJ urges the Government of Pakistan to release the journalists immediately and reminds the Government of Pakistan of the independent nature of journalism.
Journalists must be recognized as independent and separate from the incidents that they report on. It is essential that journalists be allowed to work free from fear and violence and fear of censorship. It is important that journalists be free to provide a voice for all groups in society.
Yours sincerely,
Christopher Warren
President, IFJ
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General Pervez Musharraf
President and Chief Executive of Pakistan
Via Email: [email protected]
Federal Minister Information and Broadcasting
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed
Via Email: [email protected]
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