Afghanistan: media director summoned for reporting alleged illegal smuggling of medical equipment to counter COVID-19
Event- Country
- Afghanistan
- Initial Date
- Jun 24, 2020
- Event Description
Free media support organization, NAI, on Wednesday the summoning of Pajhwok Afghan News editor in chief to the Wolesi Jirga in connection with a report on smuggling of 32 ventilators was against the law.
In a statement, NAI said that every complaint from media should be addressed through Media Complaints and Investigation Commission.
The statement read: �On Wednesday Pajhwok Afghan News head Danish Karokhel was summoned to the Wolesi Jirga and was asked to provide explanation regarding the smuggling report of 32 ventilators published by his organization.�
NAI believed this act of Wolesi Jirga was against the media law, which has been approved by the parliament.
Separately, First Vice President Amrullah Saleh in a tweet rejected smuggling of ventilators to Pakistan.
He wrote: �NO ventilator is missing from the inventory of the Ministry of Health in Kabul or provinces. NONE. Don't fall in the trap of lies & falsehood. When someone tells you that your nose was stolen by the cat touch your nose first before chasing the onlooking cat. Calm down.�
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- #COVID-19
- Online
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 24 June 2020, Danish Karokhel, media director, was summoned by the Parliament for reporting an alleged illegal smuggling of medical equipment to counter COVID-19 in Kabul, Afghanistan.