The free press is always considered “oxygen” for democracy and if there is no free press, there is no democracy. On the deterioration of press freedom, senior journalist Arshad Sharif penned a letter to the honorable president of Pakistan and supreme commander of armed forces Dr. Arif Alvi.
Through this exclusive letter, journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif raised some serious questions on threats posed to him and other senior journalists including Arif Hameed Bhatti, Imran Riaz Khan, Sami Ibrahim, Sabir Shakir, Siddique Jan, Dr. Moeed PeerZada, Jameel Faruqi and a few others.
As a recipient of the Presidential Pride of Performance award, journalist Arshad Sharif brought some undeniable facts in President Alvi’s notice and revealed that “an attempt is being made by certain unscrupulous elements to target and illegally restrain the undersigned from exercising rights and duties ensured by Article 4, Article 9, Article 10 A, Article 14, Article 18, Article 19 and 19 A of the Constitution of
Pakistan.”
Senior journalist and Anchorperson also revealed that “Based on credible information from reliable sources I place it on record that discussions were held by certain “unscrupulous elements” to involve the undersigned in false, bogus, fabricated criminal cases; to kidnap and make enforced disappearance or to beat the undersigned and other journalists.
As per my credible sources, the same planning has allegedly been done against other journalists including Arif Hameed Bhatti, Imran Riaz Khan, Sami Ibrahim, Sabir Shakir, Siddique Jan, and Dr. Moeed PeerZada, Jameel Faruqi and a few others.”
Besides this credible information, the senior journalist also quoted the tweets of senior journalists regarding the threat of his abduction. Imran Riaz Khan who was recently picked by Police on fake sedition charges, claimed that according to his information, an attack on Arshad Sharif is being planned.
The 12-page letter raises serious questions about the conduct of the state and threats posed to journalists in Pakistan.
