Punjab Union, right activists condemn PCB for disrespecting journalists

Senior journalists, rights activists, and the Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) strongly opposed an ban on Sana Ullah Khan and Khawaja Qadir, well-reputed sport journalists, and slammed the ‘secretive’ action against the media persons for exposing mismanagements in the Pakistan Cricket Board – headed by Mohsin Naqvi as its chairman since February 6, 2024.

In a joint statement, Punjab Union’s president Naeem Hanif, and its Secretary General Qamar Zaman Bhatti expressed deep concerns over the banning of the journalists, saying that such actions not only undermined the fundamental right to freedom of expression, enshrined in the constitution, but also represent a blatant attempt to suppress press freedom. “We urge authorities to respect the constitutional protections for freedom of expression and ensure that journalists are not targeted for their work,” they said.

The journalists and the union urged the PCB management to stay away from taking unilateral and cruel actions against the reputed journalists, and demanded from the sport body to refrain from using its powers to silence journalists. They asked the Cricket Board to accept and tolerate questions and critical analysis from the journalists and media outlets, rather than barring any journalist from media coverage and subjecting them to sanctions.

Sana Ullah Khan says journalists deserve to work without retribution, asks Mohsin Naqvi, and his team to fix PCB’s ‘internal’ affairs

Naeem Hanif said that both Sana Ullah Khan of the PakTV and Qadir Khawaja of the Samaa News were senior sports reporters, but the Cricket Board has imposed a ban on their media coverage after their critical questions and analysis. “I just want to convey to the PCB management that blocking the accreditation cards of the journalists is in fact a serious attack on the right to freedom of the press,” he said, called the action as a misuse of powers to silence the press. He demanded of the PCB management to take immediate notice of this matter and lift the ban.

Sana Ullah Khan in his widely-circulated vlog said that all the journalists and media workers deserve to work without fear and retribution. “It is impossible if someone is thinking that I can be silenced. Remember, I am not ready to sit silence on injustice,” he said, adding that he would fight back with more power and will speak about what is right and what is wrong. “I am not going to accept dictation from anyone either Mohsin Naqvi or his ‘right man’ that is basically on a wrong side,” he said, and urged the authorities to ensure press freedom and safety of media workers from any kind of retribution.

Qamar Bhatti said that Mohsin Naqvi should realize the ban on journalists from media coverage as a serious attack on freedom of the press. He said that restrictions on journalists would bring disrepute to the Cricket Board at the global level. He called on the authorities to withdraw restrictions on Sana Ullah Khan and Qadir Khawaja. He also expressed concerns that the officials were still using vile tactics to prevent media from performing their professional duties. Calling the ban an intimidation, the journalists raised serious concerns about the misuse of authority by the PCB management to curb press freedom.

It is pertinent to mention here that a delegation of the Sports Journalists Association of Lahore (SJAL) – a representative body of beat reporters – called on PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi last week. During the meeting, the PCB chairman assured the delegation members that he issued ‘clear’ instructions to PCB Media Director Aamir Mir to facilitate journalists and not create hurdles for the media workers in their coverage. Also, the media representatives confirmed that two more journalists faced same restrictions, but restored after a ‘brief’ ban.