A Pakistani journalist, Saifullah Jan, has sought a judicial inquiry into his claims that he was tortured and humiliated by members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Speaking at a press conference in Charsadda, Jan, who is a member of the governing body of the Charsadda Press Club, also accused the local police of siding with the accused, The News International reported.
Jan accused several PTI leaders of taking him to the PTI office in Charsadda Bazaar where he was allegedly stripped naked and tortured. He says a video was made of him whilst naked, and that the accused only let him go after public pressure. When he sought to file a complaint with the local police station, he says the FIR did not include the “relevant sections of the law”, with the policing choosing not to press charges and the local court granted bail to his assailants.
Jan has asked the Peshawar High Court to look into the matter and order a judicial probe into the incident.
According to the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors’ (CPNE) Media Freedom Report 2020, ten journalists were killed in Pakistan in 2020, while several others were threatened. The report says no action was taken against those responsible for torturing and killing journalists.
In 2020, Pakistan ranked 145th in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index. India ranked 142nd.