Journalist threatened
CHITRAL, Nov 9: An agent of the public transporters in Chitral on Sunday threatened Gul Hamaad Farooqui, a Chitral-based reporter, for running a story about the non-reduction of fares after the drastic cut in the prices of petroleum products.
Talking to ChitralToday here, Farooqui said after the drastic reduction in the POL prices on November 1, the deputy commissioner Chitral fixed new fares on different routes in Chitral and between Chitral and Peshawar, Islamabad Dir etc. However, the transporters were not ready to reduce the fares.
He said that he ran stories in different newspapers and TV channels about the fleecing of passengers by the transporters. He said Mr Bashir, the Munshi of the Chitral Ada, who is also the former political secretary to ex-KP minister and current MPA Saleem Khan, threatened him of dire consequences for writing against the transporters. Mr Bashir told the journalist that why he had ran stories when no other local newspaper stringer had reported the matter. Mr Farooqui said he would continue raising voice against any injustice with the people.]]>
Such people should be condemned and cut to size. Look at his logic that if no one else has raised any voice against the highhandedness of the transporters mafia why you, Mr Farooqui, has reported the matter. Mr Farooqui is the only journalist based in Chitral who has highlighted the issues of Chitral in all major newspapers, TV channels and websites courageously. I personally condemn the ada munshi for threatening him. Such tactics are not tolerated in any civilized society.
Threats to journalists who report genuine problems faced by people is condemnable and should openly be admonished by the civil society.
We condemn this happening. Government should take serious action against such people who want to hijack the society.