Journalist Detained in PoJK for Reporting on Protests
Authorities in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) are facing criticism after detaining journalist Syed Farhad Ali Shah, who was arrested for covering demonstrations organized by the recently outlawed Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC). The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for his immediate and unconditional release, warning that the arrest threatens media freedom ahead of the July 27 regional elections.
Shah, a journalist for the digital news platform Times of Kashmir, was taken into custody on June 20 in Bagh district under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, a preventive detention law that allows authorities to hold individuals without formal charges for up to six months, according to CPJ.
Family Reports No FIR or Court Appearance
A family member, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, stated that Shah was detained in Rawalakot after covering anti-government protests linked to JKJAAC. According to his family, no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the journalist, and he has not been produced before a court since his detention.
The use of preventive detention laws against journalists undermines due process and appears aimed at discouraging independent reporting on politically sensitive developments, CPJ noted.
CPJ Warns of Intimidation Ahead of Elections
CPJ’s Afghanistan-Pakistan Representative, Waliullah Rahmani, said detaining journalists for reporting on public demonstrations sends a dangerous signal to the media. “Covering protests and political events is a legitimate journalistic duty,” Rahmani stated. He warned that such actions could intimidate reporters ahead of the July 27 regional elections in PoJK.
The arrest comes shortly after authorities banned JKJAAC on June 5 under anti-terrorism legislation. The alliance had announced demonstrations opposing the allocation of 12 legislative seats reserved for refugees who migrated from India to Pakistan decades ago.
Protests Turn Deadly Amid Security Crackdown
The protests escalated into widespread unrest, followed by a security crackdown that reportedly left at least 15 people dead, resulted in numerous arrests, and was accompanied by internet restrictions across parts of the region, as reported by CPJ.
Shah’s detention has drawn renewed attention to the state of media freedom in PoJK, where journalists often face harassment and legal pressure for covering opposition activities.
