Case Update Status

In the consultation meeting, along with deciding the future course of action, to adopt an effective strategy to challenge the unconstitutional and illegal actions of the government against journalists in the higher judiciary and to defend the government’s accusations based on facts were decided.

Summary of Case

"On April 16, 2024, two journalists, Waqas Kazmi of Suno TV and Raja Khalid from the Muzaffarabad Press Club, were sent a letter by Finance Minister Abdul Majid Khan of Muzaffarabad, AJK, urging disciplinary measures against them for their reporting activities within his jurisdiction. On April 24, Kazmi told PPF that they ventured into Abdul Majid's territory and conducted interviews with local residents. The individuals expressed grievances regarding the lack of electricity and basic necessities in the area. Subsequently, Abdul Majid issued a letter and formed two committees tasked with monitoring such social media posts and initiating disciplinary actions against them. On April 25, speaking with PPF, Khalid clarified that their intention was not to specifically target Abdul Majid. They were simply conducting interviews with local residents when Majid chose to take action against them. On April 25, Muzaffarabad Central Press Club President Wahid Iqbal Butt told PPF that they had issued a press release and had called for a protest on Monday. TV Journalists Association, the representative organization of journalists associated with national and international electronic media in Azad Kashmir, has complained about the government’s retaliatory actions against Muzaffarabad journalists Waqas Kazmi and Raja Khalid and four Kashmiri journalists, Aamir Mehboob, Raja Kafeel,condemning the retaliatory actions taken by the Prime Minister and the Interior Minister against Shahzad Rathore and Khwaja Kashif Mir, the Ministers have asked the Azad Kashmir Accountability Bureau and the Anti-Corruption Department to refer to international and national journalistic and human rights organizations. It has announced to run a vigorous protest movement including providing evidence of corruption cases, constitutional and legal defense of revenge actions. The TV Journalists Association termed the incidents against the media in Azad Kashmir for the past few days as strangulation of freedom of expression, former president of AKNS Aamir Mehboob, senior journalists Raja Kafeel, Kashif Mir, and Shahzad Rathore. Secret cases were also condemned, in the advisory meeting of TV Journalists Association Azad Kashmir, Imtiaz Awan, Muhammad Arif Arfi, Asif Raza Mir, Sajjad Mir, Naeem Abbasi, Fida Hussain, Syed Ashfaq Shah, Naeem Chughtai, Nadeem Shah, Shah Zaib Afzal, Waqas Kazmi, Raja Shujaat, Raja Khalid, Ashfaq Awan, Shujaat Mir, Shabbir Anjum, Kamran Mughal, Fawad Abbasi, and Hamza addressed the meeting against the decision of retaliatory action at the government level. In the meeting, it was decided to fight against the decision of retaliatory action at the government level within the framework of the constitution and the law. In the advisory meeting of the TV Journalists Association, it was decided that the news and Vlog published against the Minister of Government Abdul Majid Khan, A three-member committee consisting of senior journalists has been established to investigate the records, which will review all the documentary evidence and take action. In the meeting, it was decided to provide the documentary evidence of the allegations against the government minister to the Accountability Bureau and the anti-corruption department. In the meeting , it has been decided to broadcast the government’s reprisals against journalists on domestic and international media and write letters to international human rights organizations, reporters without borders, press clubs, journalistic organizations and media houses. In this regard, the establishment of a three-member committee was also approved. In the advisory meeting of TVJA, it was decided to fully support the call of protest by CUJ. In the consultation meeting, along with deciding the future course of action, to adopt an effective strategy to challenge the unconstitutional and illegal actions of the government against journalists in the higher judiciary and to defend the government’s accusations based on facts were also decided. (Daily Parliament Times)

Category of Incident

Legal Action

ICCS Status

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

ICCS Group: N/A

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

ICCS Crime: Missing

Reported By

Abdul Majid Khan

Date of incident

16

Month

April

Year

2024

Name of affected person

Waqas Kazmi

Other affected persons

Raja Khalid

Name of affected organization

N/A

Other affected organizations

N/A

Action by

Abdul Majid Khan

City

Muzaffarabad

Province

Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Designation

Reporter

Professional category

Journalist

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

"On April 16, 2024, two journalists, Waqas Kazmi of Suno TV and Raja Khalid from the Muzaffarabad Press Club, were sent a letter by Finance Minister Abdul Majid Khan of Muzaffarabad, AJK, urging disciplinary measures against them for their reporting activities within his jurisdiction. On April 24, Kazmi told PPF that they ventured into Abdul Majid's territory and conducted interviews with local residents. The individuals expressed grievances regarding the lack of electricity and basic necessities in the area. Subsequently, Abdul Majid issued a letter and formed two committees tasked with monitoring such social media posts and initiating disciplinary actions against them. On April 25, speaking with PPF, Khalid clarified that their intention was not to specifically target Abdul Majid. They were simply conducting interviews with local residents when Majid chose to take action against them. On April 25, Muzaffarabad Central Press Club President Wahid Iqbal Butt told PPF that they had issued a press release and had called for a protest on Monday. ---- TV Journalists Association, the representative organization of journalists associated with national and international electronic media in Azad Kashmir, has complained about the government’s retaliatory actions against Muzaffarabad journalists Waqas Kazmi and Raja Khalid and four Kashmiri journalists, Aamir Mehboob, Raja Kafeel,condemning the retaliatory actions taken by the Prime Minister and the Interior Minister against Shahzad Rathore and Khwaja Kashif Mir, the Ministers have asked the Azad Kashmir Accountability Bureau and the Anti-Corruption Department to refer to international and national journalistic and human rights organizations. It has announced to run a vigorous protest movement including providing evidence of corruption cases, constitutional and legal defense of revenge actions. The TV Journalists Association termed the incidents against the media in Azad Kashmir for the past few days as strangulation of freedom of expression, former president of AKNS Aamir Mehboob, senior journalists Raja Kafeel, Kashif Mir, and Shahzad Rathore. Secret cases were also condemned, in the advisory meeting of TV Journalists Association Azad Kashmir, Imtiaz Awan, Muhammad Arif Arfi, Asif Raza Mir, Sajjad Mir, Naeem Abbasi, Fida Hussain, Syed Ashfaq Shah, Naeem Chughtai, Nadeem Shah, Shah Zaib Afzal, Waqas Kazmi, Raja Shujaat, Raja Khalid, Ashfaq Awan, Shujaat Mir, Shabbir Anjum, Kamran Mughal, Fawad Abbasi, and Hamza addressed the meeting against the decision of retaliatory action at the government level. In the meeting, it was decided to fight against the decision of retaliatory action at the government level within the framework of the constitution and the law. In the advisory meeting of the TV Journalists Association, it was decided that the news and Vlog published against the Minister of Government Abdul Majid Khan, A three-member committee consisting of senior journalists has been established to investigate the records, which will review all the documentary evidence and take action. In the meeting, it was decided to provide the documentary evidence of the allegations against the government minister to the Accountability Bureau and the anti-corruption department. In the meeting , it has been decided to broadcast the government’s reprisals against journalists on domestic and international media and write letters to international human rights organizations, reporters without borders, press clubs, journalistic organizations and media houses. In this regard, the establishment of a three-member committee was also approved. In the advisory meeting of TVJA, it was decided to fully support the call of protest by CUJ. In the consultation meeting, along with deciding the future course of action, to adopt an effective strategy to challenge the unconstitutional and illegal actions of the government against journalists in the higher judiciary and to defend the government’s accusations based on facts were also decided. (Daily Parliament Times) "

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

No versiona was recorded

Employer organization

No version was recorded

Press Club Status

Press club 1: On April 25, Muzaffarabad Central Press Club President Wahid Iqbal Butt told PPF that they had issued a press release and had called for a protest.

Press club 2: On April 25, Muzaffarabad Central Press Club President Wahid Iqbal Butt told PPF that they had issued a press release and had called for a protest.

Press club 3: On April 25, Muzaffarabad Central Press Club President Wahid Iqbal Butt told PPF that they had issued a press release and had called for a protest.