Quetta Press Club Sealed Shut to Block BYC Seminar, Journalists Vow Nationwide Protests

FOE Link or motive by PPF

Confirmed

Case Update Status

The Protest was held by the civil society

Summary of Case

Police and local administration officials sealed shut the gates of the Quetta Press Club on May 18 in a move raising concerns about press freedom. The closure was reportedly an attempt to prevent the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) from holding a seminar at the venue. BYC members arrived at the press club only to find it inaccessible. They broke the locks to hold their seminar as planned. The press club's hall was reopened on the same day soon after the incident. Both the Baluchistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the press club closure. The PFUJ issued a statement through its President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari calling press clubs ""neutral areas"" for raising the voices of those facing state repression. Demanding immediate restoration of press club activities, the PFUJ leaders pointed to Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to free speech and expression for every citizen. They further stated that ""the country is facing the worst kind of media gagging and denial of freedom of expression, and Baluchistan is specifically being targeted."" The BUJ termed the closure ""an attack on the freedom of press"" and a blatant violation of Article 19 of the Constitution. In response to this attack on press freedom, the BUJ plans to begin their protests with a walkout by its members from the Baluchistan Assembly on May 20th, followed by a demonstration held outside the Assembly building. If there is a failure to respond to their demands, the BUJ has called for a nationwide Black Day to be observed on May 21st. Press clubs across Pakistan are expected to launch protests on the call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists. On May 20, BUJ President Khalil Ahmed told PPF that members of BUJ and the Quetta Press Club, along with other journalists, staged a walkout from the Balochistan Assembly and protested outside the building. The Chief Minister of Balochistan, Sarfraz Bugti, condemned the incident in the assembly and announced the formation of an investigation committee. Representatives from BUJ and the Quetta Press Club are scheduled to meet with the Chief Minister on May 21 for further discussions. They have also called for a nationwide ""Black Day"" on May 21, with expected participation from press clubs across Pakistan."

Category of Incident

Attack on property

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Group: 08039-Other acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Class: -

ICCS Crime: Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

Reported By

Dawn, The News

Date of incident

18

Month

May

Year

2024

Name of affected person

Members of Quetta Press Club

Other affected persons

No

Name of affected organization

Chaman Press Club

Other affected organizations

No

Action by

Police and local administration

City

Quetta

Province

Baluchistan

Designation

N/A

Professional category

N/A

Age of victim

N/A

Marital Status

N/A

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation was announced

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation was announced

Date compensation paid by others: No compensation was announced

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: No

Court where case was presented: Case was not presented in any court

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Case was not presented in any court

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Case was not presented in any court

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

"PFUJ: In a statement, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari said press clubs were “neutral areas” “for raising voices for those who are victims of state highhandedness”. The PFUJ leaders called for immediate restoration of activities at the press clubs, saying that Article 19 of the Constitution protects the right of free speech and expression of every citizen. “The country is facing the worst kind of media gagging and denial of freedom of expression, and Balochistan is specifically being targeted,” the PFUJ leader said. (Dawn) Balochistan Union of Journalists: Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) Sunday decided to start a nationwide protest movement against the locking down of Quetta Press Club. The decision was taken at a joint meeting of BUJ and senior journalists, including executive members of the Quetta Press Club. President Press Club Abdul Khaliq Rind and President BUJ Khalil Ahmad presided over the meeting held at the Press Club. Concern was expressed over the raid on the Press Club by district administration and police and shutting down of the Club. The senior journalists of the province described locking down of Press Club as an extreme measure to prevent the journalists from carrying out their professional obligations. In the first phase of protest movement, there will be a walkout from Balochistan Assembly on Monday and a protest demonstration outside the Assembly. A nationwide movement will be started observing Black Day on May 21 if demands are not met. On the call of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, protests will be launched at all the press clubs in the country. Black flags will be hoisted at the press clubs to register protest against the Balochistan Government. (The News) On May 20, BUJ President Khalil Ahmed told PPF that members of BUJ and the Quetta Press Club, along with other journalists, staged a walkout from the Balochistan Assembly and protested outside the building. The Chief Minister of Balochistan, Sarfraz Bugti, condemned the incident in the assembly and announced the formation of an investigation committee. Representatives from BUJ and the Quetta Press Club are scheduled to meet with the Chief Minister on May 21 for further discussions. They have also called for a nationwide ""Black Day"" on May 21, with expected participation from press clubs across Pakistan."

APNS

Not condemned

CPNE

Not condemned

PBA

Not condemned

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

No version was recorded

Employer organization

N/A

Press Club Status

Press club 1: No version was recorded

Press club 2: No version was recorded

Press club 3: No version was recorded