Case Update Status

Women Press Freedom demanded authorities to ensure her safety _"- https://www.womeninjournalism.org/threats-all/pakistan-absa-komal-receives-death-threats-for-condemning-attack-on-christian-community - https://www.fnpk.org/two-journalists-shot-killed-in-sindh-north-waziristan/ "

Summary of Case

"On May 27, Dawn News host Absa Komal received online threats after criticizing a mob attack on the Christian community in Sargodha. Workers of the Tehreek-Labbaik Pakistan party threatened and harassed Komal on X, formerly Twitter. Komal was vocal in her condemnation of the attack on the Christian community in Sargodha. She posted on X to highlight the torture of the Christian community and also criticized TLP’s role in the violence. Following this, she received a series of threats and harassment online from TLP supporters. The attacks on her called for her to show evidence against TLP if she had any. Some of the comments were abusive towards Komal, and some shared her past post in which Komal condemned the incident that took place in Nov 2020, where TLP workers were injured, and she called the TLP workers as activists. A person with the ID name ‘FoxHand’ re-shared the above-mentioned post of Komal in comments and tried to depict the change in the statement of Komal for the TLP. An account,’ Truth Media’ (Exposing Fake News, Objective Analysis and Fair Reporting and Freelance Journalist) as per the profile, also re-shared the same old post by Komal and stated in the caption “kaba kis mun se jaogyy Ghalib shrm tum ko mgr ati nhi he.” According to his biography, Israr Chaudhry is a political commentator, journalist, tech and health expert, and pharmacist who asked Komal to apologize if she could not provide evidence. Isra Noor, a social media activist, journalist/freelancer, and worker of TLP, shared a post in which she asked for an apology stating that Komal made a baseless, false, and fabricated statement against the TLP without any proof while talking about the May 25, 2024 incident. On the same day, Komal re-shared Noor’s post, and called on the Government of Pakistan to address the threats, stating: “Will the government do something about the radical group that’s openly threatening journalists who are speaking out and reporting on the attack on the innocent Christian community in Sargodha?” Komal replied to Isra Noor in words: “Your party’s identity and ideology is accusing & killing innocent people in the name of religion; nothing will change that.” Journalist and freelancer Arzo Kazmi condemned the threat and harassment against Komal and stated for TLP’s supporter in a comment that “social media haram he, ye nhi pta.” Former Dawn Editor Abbas Nasir expressed in the comments that it was unacceptable that the government was incapable of tackling these issues. A social activist, Yousuf Fakhar, called the issue disgusting and stated that the government is responsible. --- CWFIJ: Speaking with Women Press Freedom, Komal said she learned about the TLP’s involvement in the incident from a ground reporter and was stating facts on her social media. The journalist also highlighted her concerns, stating that she has been raising them regarding the party's “violent activities against minorities.” “I took to Twitter and expressed concerns regarding this group's ideology, its impact on young minds, and the blasphemy laws of Pakistan that need to be revisited according to the legal fraternity and civil society as there have been numerous cases of the law's misuse,” she tells Women Press Freedom, adding that she has since received numerous threats and a vile campaign against her has been organized by TLP trolls. “Most of them are threatening and asking me to provide proof of the allegations, while the thread I posted on X includes the news story pointing out how the Sargodha incident was initiated by a person brainwashed by TLP,” she tells Women Press Freedom. The threats she received included TLP workers telling her how they could turn from 'flower' to 'sword' against people like Komal. “One of them even mentioned that a TLP worker killed a man in Europe, so I should watch out. Some are saying they will not spare me as it is a matter of life and death."

Category of Incident

Threats

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0201-Assaults and threats

ICCS Group: 02012- Threat

ICCS Class: 020122- Minor threat

ICCS Crime: Threats

Reported By

CWFIJ

Date of incident

28

Month

May

Year

2024

Name of affected person

Absa Komal

Other affected persons

No

Name of affected organization

Dawn News

Other affected organizations

No

Action by

TLP supporters on X

City

N/A

Province

N/A

Designation

Host

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

N/K

Marital Status

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: Court was not presented in any court

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

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

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

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Not condemned

APNS

Not condemned

CPNE

Not condemned

PBA

Not condemned

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Not required

Employer organization

Not required

Press Club Status

Press club 1: No version was required

Press club 2: No version was required

Press club 3: No version was required