NEW YORK: Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US-based advocacy group, voiced concern over the upcoming indictment of journalist Matiullah Jan, known for his reporting on police abuse, by Pakistan's anti-terrorism court on October 31, describing the charges as "politically motivated".
The rights body called on the Pakistani authorities to immediately drop the "baseless" charges against Jan under several sections of the country's 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act and for alleged narcotics possession.
"Pakistani journalists have in recent years increasingly faced serious obstacles to their work, including harassment, threats, assault, arbitrary arrest and detention, enforced disappearance, and killings. The authorities have increasingly pressured editors and media owners to stifle critical reporting, " the HRW stated.