CPJ, partners call Pakistan’s prime minister to address alarming deterioration in press freedom

The Committee to Protect Journalists, together with eight other press freedom and human rights organizations, on Friday urged Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take immediate action to address the country’s rapidly deteriorating press freedom environment. 

In a joint letter, the groups expressed concern about new restrictions on reporting in parts of Pakistan, recurring internet and telecommunications blackouts, government meddling in news outlets’ operations, and criminal investigations against journalists.

The groups called on Sharif’s government to ensure those responsible for threatening and harassing the press, or detaining journalists arbitrarily, are held accountable.

They also called for the immediate release and safe return of journalists Razi Tahir and Muhammad Saif, who have been missing for more than a month after being taken from their office in connection to their reporting on Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Read the full letter here.