Noorani, a co-founder and reporter at news website FactFocusreceived death threats onFacebook and Twitterfor an article published on August 27 revealing thefinancial assets of retired Army General Asim Saleem Bajwa who is also the prime minister’sspecial assistant on information and broadcasting.
The death threats came after ARY News, a privately owned TV channel, accused on the journalists of publishing fake news on August 29’. In its broadcast, ARY alleged that Noorani, and two other journalists Mubashir Zaidi and Gul Bukhari were not credible and had had intentionally disseminated fake news.
Following the broadcast, journalist Gul Bukhari, currently living in exile in United Kingdom also received death and rape threats. Zaidi noted that the threats increased following the ARY broadcast.
Noorani, who is presently living in the United States, is preparing to file case against ARY news with Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and Federal Investigation Agency. Bukhari will be seeking police protection.
The IFJ said: “The IFJ denounce the malevolent online threats against the journalists and urge PEMRA and the Pakistan police to investigate on the case and hold the guilty to account.”