slamabad – Shahid Akhtar Awan, President of Working Journalists, has submitted an application to the Chairman Senate of Pakistan condemning the harassment of journalists, registration of false FIRs, and judicial actions undermining press freedom and the rule of law.

He stressed that press freedom is a fundamental element of democratic societies, yet in Pakistan journalists face continuous pressure and challenges in the course of their professional duties. He stated that taking the viewpoint of a plaintiff or party is part of journalistic responsibility, but converting it into a crime and filing cases is a clear violation of the Constitution, law, and basic human rights.

In his application, Shahid Akhtar Awan highlighted that last month, for including the viewpoint of a complainant named Sultan Afser in a program, false complaints were filed in an attempt to register a case against him. He termed this a serious attack on press freedom and a blatant violation of constitutional rights and freedom of expression.

He appealed to the Chairman Senate to take immediate notice of the matter and ensure effective measures to end harassment and pressure tactics against journalists so that press freedom in Pakistan can be safeguarded.