Karachi:The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has strongly condemned the deteriorating state of freedom of expression and press freedom in Quetta, Balochistan, demanding the immediate cessation of imposed censorship on newspapers and the misuse of advertisements as a tool of censorship.
In a joint statement issued by CPNE President Arshad Ahmed Arif, Senior Vice President Anwar Sajjadi, Vice President Arif Baloch, and Secretary General Ijaz-ul-Haq, it was highlighted that after a prolonged period of press advisories, formal censorship has now been enforced in Quetta, particularly affecting the publication of news. Officials from the Public Relations Department have reportedly been visiting newspaper offices to scrutinize news copies and even possess the authority to issue advertisements, reminiscent of the martial law era under Zia-ul-Haq.
On the other hand, opposition party news has been subjected to restrictions at the Quetta Press Club and following formal press advisories, authorized officers from the Information Department are preventing legitimate reporting. Furthermore, newspapers are being deprived of advertisements for publishing opposition news, not only undermining press freedom and freedom of expression but also illustrating an condemnable trend of authoritarian practices.
Emphasizing the press as a pillar of the state and democracy, CPNE urged the government to refrain from targeting democratic institutions, especially the press, through unconstitutional censorship and the cessation of advertisements. They called for immediate corrective actions to uphold constitutional freedoms and protect the fundamental rights of journalists and media outlets in Quetta and across Pakistan.
