April 15, 2022
1 min read

Amnesty flags Pakistan on crackdown on critics

Dissanayake called for the government to immediately and unconditionally release the eight people arrested across Pakistan Punjab…reports Asian Lite News

The Amnesty International has urged Pakistani authorities to immediately release eight people arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for “criticising the state” on Twitter, Dawn reported.

“The Pakistani authorities must stop using the draconian Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) to punish people who are simply exercising their right to freedom of expression online,” Dinushika Dissanayake, the rights body’s Director for South Asia demanded.

She pointed out that for the longest period of time, successive governments in Pakistan had used the law as a tool to crush peaceful dissent and intimidate supporters of political opposition.

Dissanayake called for the government to immediately and unconditionally release the eight people arrested across Pakistan Punjab, adding that instead of quashing dissenting voices, the authorities should end their “repressive crackdown” on the right to freedom of expression.

Earlier this week, the FIA had launched a crackdown on social media activists it believed were involved in a “smear campaign” against institutions, especially the army, ever since former Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted through a no-confidence motion.

Since last Sunday, the top trending hashtags on Twitter were those targeting the army, the judiciary and the new government, and on Tuesday the tweets using those hashtags soared to 4.3 million.

An FIA official said that they had arrested some eight suspects in connection with a social media campaign against the army and the judiciary from different parts of Punjab, including Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad.

ALSO READ: 8 Pakistan soldiers killed in militant attack

Previous Story

Indians maintain stronghold on H-1B visas

Next Story

Celebs back to 90s fashion

Latest from -Top News

Kenyans put president on notice

Kenya’s fifth president became a remarkably unpopular leader barely two years into his presidency after proposing aggressive tax measures that many saw as a betrayal of his campaign promise to support working-class

World Bank grants South Africa a $1.5 bn loan

Deteriorating rail systems, jammed ports and frequent blackouts have hindered vital industries like mining and auto manufacturing in South Africa, contributing to slow economic growth over the last decade in Africa’s most

Judge halts Trump from dismantling USADF

Congress established USADF as an independent agency in 1980, with the mandate to support economic development initiatives in AfricaXXX In a significant legal development, a federal judge in Washington, DC, has temporarily

BRICS Bank Welcomes Colombia, Uzbekistan

The bank’s Board of Governors approved the accession of the two countries, bringing the total membership to 11….reports Asian Lite News Colombia and Uzbekistan have joined the New Development Bank (NDB), expanding
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Pak minister asks public to use less fuel

Faraz also said that “life cannot be normal during these

Pakistan backtracks on objection to Holi celebration at university

The letter advised HEIs to “prudently distance” themselves from all