ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has called for an end to the “campaign of harassment and intimidation” of Kashmiri journalists, as it condemned India’s repression of the media in occupied Kashmir.
In a statement issued on World Press Freedom Day, Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said that Pakistan expressed solidarity with the journalist community in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“While saluting their exceptional courage, we also honour the sacrifice of those Kashmiri journalists who have laid down their lives in the line of duty. The latest among those martyrs was Shujaat Bukhari in June 2018.”
The FO spokesperson also expressed appreciation for the work journalists in the occupied valley are doing.
“It is commendable that Kashmiri journalists continue to work with conviction and professionalism, despite the heavy handedness of Indian occupation forces acting with impunity under the draconian Public Safety Act, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
“Global media watchdogs, Indian and international human rights groups, and civil society organisations have expressed deep concerns over unprecedented restrictions imposed on the media, the widespread intimidation of Kashmiri journalists, and the precarious state of their work environment,” she said.
The statement added: “It is clear that the RSS-inspired Bharatiya Janata Party government is motivated by the sole objective of hiding its blatant human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and is bent on muzzling independent voices of the media and journalists.”
According to the spokesperson, the situation has become increasingly alarming since India’s “illegal and unilateral” actions on August 5, 2019, when it revoked the region’s special autonomy through a presidential decree.
The FO called upon India to lift all communication restrictions in occupied Kashmir, withdraw “frivolous cases” against Kashmiri journalists and restore the fundamental freedom of the people of the occupied valley.
In June 2018, Bukhari — a veteran Kashmiri journalist — was shot dead in Srinagar. On April 20, police in occupied Kashmir said they were investigating two journalists for allegedly spreading “fake news”.
