Pakistan radio station set alight

The protests, which followed the arrest of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister and Chair of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, saw violence perpetrated against journalists and news outlets.

On Wednesday 10 May, the Peshawar office of Radio Pakistan, the government-controlled broadcaster, was set alight. According to Geo News, the building was historic as it had been used since 1935. Not only was the building severely damaged due to the blaze, but items were also looted, including cameras, microphones, and recorders. Transmission from the office was temporarily suspended but restored again after less than 26 hours. Radio Pakistan is a former member of the Public Media Alliance.

According to RSF, this was not the only attack on journalists by the pro-Imran Khan protesters. On 9 May, “satellite transmission vehicles of Dawn News TV, Aaj News, Khyber News and Express News were subjected to rock throwing and baton attacks.” A Dawn News TV reporter, Arif Hayat, was also attacked, according to the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

Read more: Pakistan: Regulator exerting greater control

But in their attempts to quash the protests, the government and Pakistan authorities have also targeted journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists has verified a number of attacks, including police officers attacking journalists as they covered a raid on a house. Police also arrested and detained Imran Riaz Khan, a journalist with the private broadcaster, BOL News, and a known supporter of the former PM and PTI.

A First Information Report has subsequently been filed in his father’s name, as Mr. Khan’s location is still unknown, causing more concern. The PPF has demanded his whereabouts be clarified and that he be safely returned.

Another journalist, Aftab Iqbal, was also arrested, but was released on Friday.

“While political sentiments are running high and party workers are charged, it is essential for political parties and authorities to remember the role of the media and allow them to do their work without the fear of reprisal.” – Pakistan Press Foundation

The government also responded to the protests by shutting down the internet. The decision was made by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority at the request of the Ministry of Interior. “It is unfortunate that whenever the political climate in the country heats up, such a measure is viewed to be a necessity, when in truth it robs the people of the fundamental right of access to information that is guaranteed by law,” Sameen Daud Khan, a researcher who worked on Pakistan’s Internet Landscape 2022 report, told Geo TV. Social media platforms were down as well, although they are now back up.

PEMRA – the country’s media regulator – has also played a familiar role in controlling what is broadcast. An alert was sent out by the regulator, ordering TV networks not to air any content deemed to be against national security.

The events over the past week portray a tense and febrile atmosphere following Imran Khan’s arrest. Journalists and news organisations have been targeted on both sides.

Yet it is during these times of heightened tension, when media freedom and access to information is most critical. “While political sentiments are running high and party workers are charged, it is essential for political parties and authorities to remember the role of the media and allow them to do their work without the fear of reprisal,” said the PPF.

Journalists and media organisations must never be targeted or attacked for doing their job, and the perpetrators must be held to account.