Journalist Tortured by Pakistan Police After Exposing Corruption

Police in Pakistan tortured journalist Khursheed Rajput for reporting on alleged SSP corruption. Arrested on false charges, his plea was denied by the magistrate. Another journalist, Hasan Zaib, was fatally shot in Nowshera by unidentified assailants. Press freedom in Pakistan faces numerous threats from state and non-state actors.

Police in Pakistan subjected journalist Khursheed Rajput to torture after he exposed alleged corruption involving a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), reports ARY News. Rajput, from Tando Adam, appeared in court with a friend where police sought a remand, but the civil magistrate denied the request and instead ordered him to jail.

Authorities charged Rajput with robbery and possessing illegal weapons, which he insists are fabricated charges aimed at retaliation for his investigative reporting on the SSP's corrupt practices. Rajput further disclosed that the Station House Officer (SHO) of Tando Adam recorded indecent videos of him during the torture sessions.

In another incident, Hasan Zaib, a print media journalist from Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on motorcycles in a crowded market. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has demanded a comprehensive report and assured that those responsible will be brought to justice.

Journalists in Pakistan continue to face severe threats and acts of violence from both state and non-state actors. These include physical attacks, intimidation, and harassment, fostering an environment of self-censorship. The state has often been accused of manipulating media coverage through censorship and controlling information flow.

Organizations like Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Freedom House are actively monitoring the state of press freedom in Pakistan, regularly highlighting cases of censorship, attacks on journalists, and legal obstacles to free expression.

(With inputs from agencies.)