Case Update Status

The directive is still applicable.

Summary of Case

"On August 27, the Quetta Press Club received a notice from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Quetta prohibiting the club from holding any seminar or event by any political party or organization without prior approval of the district administration. On August 29, speaking to PPF, General Secretary Quetta Press Club Banaras Khan said that a meeting had been called to discuss the matter on August 29 in which all members of the Quetta Press Club, members of Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ), and members of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) were to participate and share their sentiments. As per Banaras Khan, the press club had not yet decided regarding the legal counsel to file a petition before the high court; however, he said that all human rights committees in Balochistan and members of the Bar Council are in support of the matter and they will surely provide the legal assistance in the issue. On August 20, speaking to PPF, Dawn Balochistan Bureau Chief Saleem Shahid said that since May, the Quetta Press Club and Balochistan Union of Journalists have faced obstacles and serious challenges in conducting the events. He said they had been cautioned from holding events by the deputy commissioner via Phone calls and informal orders after the seminar conducted by the Balochistan Union of Journalists, in which a representative of the Balochistan community group — Mahrang Baloch was invited. He added that such interferences and pressures in the internal affairs of the media were strongly condemnable and would not be tolerated. He stressed that the QPC and BUJ had a phenomenal stand in the Zia era as they played a peaceful role and always worked generously. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) was also harassed by officials when it conducted the seminar on the Balochistan issue, he added. President of the Balochistan Union of Journalists Khalil Ahmed told PPF that after the protest and boycott of the Provincial Assembly’s session against the intervention in a seminar conducted by the Balochistan Union of Journalists, in which a representative of the Balochistan community group, Mahrang Baloch, was invited. Members of the Balochistan assembly, including the Minister of Finance and Mineral Development Shoaib Sherwani, Education Minister Raheela Durrani, Minister of Livestock and Dairy Development Bakht Muhammad, and others had ensured that press media would not face any such intervention in the future. However, no action had been taken by them, he said. On August 30, speaking to PPF, Ahmed said that the meeting was successfully held; however, he believed that the President Press Club or General Secretary would better be able to comment. General Secretary Quetta Press Club Banaras Khan shared that the meeting concluded that the press club would file a habeas corpus writ petition challenging the notice of the Deputy Commissioner to secure their Constitutional guaranteed right to freedom of expression. He said the Balochistan Bar Council and Human Rights Commission Pakistan strongly supported the press club and the press club was confident. Stressing the participation in the meeting, he said that all members of PFUJ, BUJ, and Quetta Press Club, including their President and General Secretary and Bureau Chiefs of GEO, GNN, ARY, DUNYA NEWS, were present at the meeting and discussed, and condemned the matter. The Club would knock the legal forum for justice, he added. They are preparing to file a habeas corpus writ petition challenging the notice of the Deputy Commissioner to secure their constitutional guaranteed right to freedom of expression. Khalil Ahmed of the BUJ told PPF on September 3 that they may approach political parties. "

Category of Incident

QPC directed not to hold any seminar without any approval now

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: N/A

ICCS Group: N/A

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: N/A

Reported By

N/A

Date of incident

27

Month

August

Year

2024

Name of affected person

N/A

Other affected persons

N/A

Name of affected organization

Quetta Press Club

Other affected organizations

N/A

Action by

N/A

City

Quetta

Province

Balochistan

Designation

N/A

Professional category

Press Club

Age of victim

N/A

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: N/A

Date of compensation announcement by government: N/A

Date of compensation paid by government: N/A

Amount of compensation announced by others: N/A

Date of compensation announced by others: N/A

Date compensation paid by others: N/A

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: N/A

Court where case was presented: N/A

Name of prosecuting lawyer: N/A

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: N/A

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

N/A

APNS

N/A

CPNE

N/A

PBA

N/A

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

No version was recorded

Employer organization

No version was recorded

Press Club Status

Press club 1: According to The News, the Karachi Press Club also condemned the order in a statement. KPC President Saeed Sabrazi stated: “This move is a blatant attack on the fundamental principles of freedom of the press and freedom of speech,” he also stressed that the Press clubs have historically served as vital platforms for public discourse, and imposing such restrictions undermines their very purpose.”

Press club 2: No version was recorded

Press club 3: No version was recorded