Latest news with #HumanRightsCell
Business Recorder
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
World Press Freedom Day: Farhatullah Babar concerned at weakening of economic model of media in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Human Rights Cell President ex-Senator Farhatullah Babar expressed deep concern over the weakening of the economic model of media undermining press freedoms. On the eve of the World Press Freedom Day on Saturday, the President Human Rights Cell of the PPP ex-Senator Farhatullah Babar in his statement said, 'It is a grim thought that on the World Press Freedom Day today Pakistan, according to the 'Reporters Without Borders' has earned the dubious distinctions of joining the ranks of those 42 countries where either there is no press freedom at all or if there is some semblance of it the profession of journalism has become 'most dangerous' occupation. He said, 'It is no less an agonizing thought that according to the same report Pakistan touched a new low of ranking 158 in terms of freedom of press in the comity of nations and is bracketed with Afghanistan and some other countries facing a 'very serious situation' in respect of freedom of press. The dubious distinctions places Pakistan almost at par with Palestine, at serial 163 on the scorecard, where Israeli forces killed nearly two hundred journalists during the last 18 months, 42 of them during the performance of their journalistic duties. Farhatullah Babar said that the year 2025 started on a most inauspicious note for journalists as it began with changes to the PECA law that has exposed journalists reporting online to intimidation, harassment and subjected to grave abuse of judicial processes by the FIA with impunity and without accountability, as never before. Farhatullah Babar called upon the political parties and members of Parliament to ensure implementation of section 53 of the PECA Act and compel the FIA to place six monthly reports before Parliament detailing the actions taken by it under the PECA. He said that the failure of the Parliament to do so has emboldened the FIA to get away with torturing and humiliating journalists with total impunity. This situation cannot and must not be allowed to persist, he said. He said that it also strongly condemns the blatant advertising restrictions on some media outlets by the government who refuse to peddle the 'official truth and official narrative. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
04-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Begging racket exploiting abandoned children busted
A racket involving beggars exploiting abandoned children to beg on the streets was busted by the Human Rights Cell of the Hyderabad police on Friday night. According to Inspector Maria Sario, in charge of the cell, 14 women and two men were detained after they were found in apparent illegal custody of children who were reportedly begging alongside them. The suspects were rounded up mainly from the commercial Autobahn Road, and transported along with the children in a police mobile to the Human Rights Cell office. Sario told The Express Tribune that three children were recovered during the operation. "The women failed to produce their CNICs or provide any credible information regarding the children's identities or guardianship," she said, adding that an investigation has been launched into the matter. The action was taken under the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Zain-ul-Abedin Memon. Police and district administration officials noted that the children being used for street begging were neither the biological children of the suspects, nor could the suspects prove they had any legal custody of them. The raids were conducted within the jurisdictions of Bhitai Nagar, Qasimabad, and GOR police stations. Although the detained individuals have not yet been named in any FIR, the offences appear to involve human trafficking and bonded child labour, based on details shared with the media.
Business Recorder
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
World Press Freedom Day: Farhatullah Babar concerned at weakening of economic model of media
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Human Rights Cell President ex-Senator Farhatullah Babar expressed deep concern over the weakening of the economic model of media undermining press freedoms. On the eve of the World Press Freedom Day on Saturday, the President Human Rights Cell of the PPP ex-Senator Farhatullah Babar in his statement said, 'It is a grim thought that on the World Press Freedom Day today Pakistan, according to the 'Reporters Without Borders' has earned the dubious distinctions of joining the ranks of those 42 countries where either there is no press freedom at all or if there is some semblance of it the profession of journalism has become 'most dangerous' occupation. He said, 'It is no less an agonizing thought that according to the same report Pakistan touched a new low of ranking 158 in terms of freedom of press in the comity of nations and is bracketed with Afghanistan and some other countries facing a 'very serious situation' in respect of freedom of press. The dubious distinctions places Pakistan almost at par with Palestine, at serial 163 on the scorecard, where Israeli forces killed nearly two hundred journalists during the last 18 months, 42 of them during the performance of their journalistic duties. Farhatullah Babar said that the year 2025 started on a most inauspicious note for journalists as it began with changes to the PECA law that has exposed journalists reporting online to intimidation, harassment and subjected to grave abuse of judicial processes by the FIA with impunity and without accountability, as never before. Farhatullah Babar called upon the political parties and members of Parliament to ensure implementation of section 53 of the PECA Act and compel the FIA to place six monthly reports before Parliament detailing the actions taken by it under the PECA. He said that the failure of the Parliament to do so has emboldened the FIA to get away with torturing and humiliating journalists with total impunity. This situation cannot and must not be allowed to persist, he said. He said that it also strongly condemns the blatant advertising restrictions on some media outlets by the government who refuse to peddle the 'official truth and official narrative. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
