A journalist was brutally tortured by local police in Pakistan after uncovering alleged corruption involving the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), according to ARY News.
Khursheed Rajput, a journalist from Tando Adam, was presented in court by the police alongside a friend, who sought his remand.
However, in a surprising turn of events, the civil magistrate dismissed the request for remand and, contrary to expectations, issued an order for the journalist to be placed in jail, as reported by ARY News.
The police charged Rajput with robbery and possession of illegal weapons, which the journalist claims are false and fabricated charges as retaliation for his reporting on the SSP’s corrupt activities.
Rajput further alleged that the Station House Officer (SHO) of Tando Adam not only subjected him to severe physical torture but also went to the extent of recording indecent and humiliating videos of him during the course of this brutal treatment.
Previously, a journalist from Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was fatally shot by unidentified assailants, according to ARY News.
Hasan Zaib, who worked for a local newspaper, was shot dead by some unidentified armed assailants in Akbarpura village of Nowshera.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief minister KP – Ali Amin Gandapur swiftly responded to the murder and demanded a comprehensive report from senior police officials, as reported by ARY News.
The CM further emphasized that those involved in the murder would not evade justice.
Journalists in Pakistan frequently face threats and violence, both from state actors and non-state actors leading to physical attacks, intimidation, and harassment, which can lead to self-censorship.
The Pakistani government has faced allegations of manipulating media coverage through censorship, restricting access to information, and shaping narratives via state-controlled media outlets.
Groups such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Freedom House closely track press freedom in Pakistan, documenting cases of censorship, attacks on journalists, and legal barriers that compromise freedom of expression.
(ANI)
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