Pakistan: journalists and rights defenders intimidated
Event- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Aug 13, 2013
- Event Description
On 13 August 2013, Ghulam Fatima, owner of a small grocery shop in Sahimal, Punjab, was severely beaten and almost killed by a group of men attempting to force her to sell her property. According to the allegations received, Ms. Fatima was previously allegedly threatened and harassed a number of times by this same group of persons. Human rights defenders and journalists, some of whom are members of the Press Club of Kamir - learned that the police refused to file a FIR because they claimed they needed to investigate the incident first. Soon after, what happened to Ms. Fatima was widely reported in the print and electronic media, including live broadcasting in local TV channels. According to reports, on 14 August 2013, journalists and human rights defenders visited the police station to inquire about the status of the FIR. A police officer allegedly threatened them indicating that a "fake encounter" could be conducted against them for interfering in the official work of police. A day later, a case was reportedly filed against persons to interfering with police business, although the identities of these persons are unknown. In this connection, Mr. Barkat Ali Gulzar, President of the Press Club, and Mr. Sabir Shehzad, Director of the International Human Rights Commission were reportedly informed that should they continue reporting the case, they would be "booked in the open FIR". On 4 September 2013, a Joint Urgent Appeal was issued by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Sexual Violence
- Rights Concerned
- Access to justice
- Right to property
- Women's rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Event Location
Latitude: 30.66118130000001
Longitude: 73.1085756
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 13 August 2013, Ghulam Fatima, owner of a small grocery shop in Sahimal, Punjab, was severely beaten and almost killed by a group of men attempting to force her to sell her property. Ms. Fatima had previously been threatened and harassed a number of times by this same group of persons. Human rights defenders and journalists attempting to publicise the story and help the victim seek redress were intimidated by local police. On 4 September 2013, a Joint Urgent Appeal was issued by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences. On 4 September 2013, Pakistan acknowledged receipt of the communication.