Journalism under attack as head of ARY news arrested from residence without warrant

10-08-2022

Shanzae Saghir

Pakistan and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

All across Pakistan, journalist bodies and press clubs came out to protest the arrest of ARY News head Ammad Youssaf, as he was picked up from his house without a warrant late at night in Karachi’s DHA. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists released a statement calling this arrest very shameful, and appealed to the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to look into the matter and take appropriate action immediately. Karachi Press Club also released a statement saying that freedom of expression would not be tolerated in any way, and if Ammad Youssef is not immediately released, journalists across the nation will call for a protest. 

This comes as more of ARY’s team has been booked under sedition and charges of plotting alleged conspiracies. The new alliance government of Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) announced a crackdown on news media, and anyone who displayed sentiments that were anti-government or anti-military would be dealt with swiftly. 

Sources and further reading:

Web Desk. (2022, August 10). Ammad Yousaf arrest: Journalists threaten countrywide protest. ARY NEWS. https://arynews.tv/ammad-yousaf-arrest-journalists-threaten-countrywide-protest/