Journalists in Pakistan have staged demonstrations across the country to denounce censorship by the country's powerful military and security services, layoffs due to budget cuts, and months-long delays in wage payments.
The protests on July 16 are spearheaded by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists to fight “unprecedented censorship.”
Afzal Butt, president of the union, said the rallies are only the "beginning of a protest movement."
"We have launched a movement for the rights of journalists from today," Butt said.
"Around 5,000 journalists have lost their jobs in the last eight months and we believe it is a continuation of censorship," Butt said.
The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) last week blasted a decision by Pakistani authorities to suspend three TV news channels from cable networks for broadcasting an opposition figure’s news conference.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a report released in September that the climate for press freedom in Pakistan was deteriorating as the country's army "quietly, but effectively" restricts reporting through "intimidation" and other means.
Pakistan ranks 142nd out of 180 countries listed on RSF’s World Press Freedom Index.
Pakistani Journalists Protest Censorship
Editor's Picks
Subscribe
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
For Afghan Refugees In Pakistan, A 'Cruel' Countdown Has Begun
2Hundreds Of Thousands Of Afghans In Pakistan Brace For Deportations
3Who Is Mahrang Baloch, The Rights Advocate Arrested By Pakistan On Terrorism Charges?
4American Woman Freed By Taliban, Second Release Of US Hostage In 8 Days
5Afghans 'In Extreme Despair' Amid Uncertainty Over Their US Migration
6Millions Of Afghan Girls Barred From School For Fourth Consecutive Year
7American Glezmann Returns Home After 2-Year Detention In Afghanistan
8American Glezmann Released By Taliban After Visit To Kabul By Senior US Official
9UN Children's Agency Calls On Taliban To Lift Ban On Girls' Education
10Masses Of Afghans Being Deported From Pakistan Face Angst And Uncertainty
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
