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Pakistan military curtails freedom of press through illegal means: CPJ

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Pakistan military curtails freedom of press through illegal means: CPJ

The Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ), a New York based rights organization has alleged that the freedom of the press is under threat in Pakistan where its powerful military has used fear, intimidation, and even violence to push journalists into self-censorship.

The non-profit organization having its reporters worldwide said on Wednesday that the Pakistani army has “quietly but effectively set restrictions on reporting” by establishing “lines of control” to gag the media.

The report said that the strategy includes “barring access to regions … to encouraging self-censorship through direct and indirect methods of intimidation, including … allegedly instigating violence against reporters”.

It said, “Privately, senior editors and journalists say the conditions for the free press are as bad as when the country was under military dictatorship, and journalists were flogged and newspapers forced to close.”

Reuters reports that while the army has not responded to the report, Pakistan’s Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the government has not received any complaints of intimidation from journalists.

Pakistan military curtails freedom of press through illegal means: CPJCPJ has reportedly spoken to journalists and media organizations, including Geo News, country’s most popular news channel, and the English-language newspaper Dawn.

Referring to the recent government acts of intimidation during elections, the report said cable distributors had stopped distributing Geo’s programs to about 80 percent of households ahead of general elections.

Aljazeera said that Reuters news agency reported at least two sources at Geo News said in April that the army asked them to refrain from reporting on alleged military involvement in the incarceration of former PM Nawaz Sharif. He was ousted from office in July by Pakistan’s Supreme Court.

Similarly, the editor of Dawn said the circulation of the newspaper was blocked in several places at the behest of the military. “They’re clearly not happy with Dawn’s policies. They want Dawn to stay away from certain subjects,” its editor Zaffar Abbas said.

The US based journalists’ rights group said a journalist was beaten in a brazen attack in Islamabad, while another was assaulted by members of the security forces in Karachi.

A director at a news broadcaster said, “The mindset [of the military] now is to control the total narrative and reduce the diversity of opinion, so anything that is going against their narrative, they see as a threat.”

The CPJ report has alleged that the army, intelligence service, or groups with ties with military were linked to half of the 22 journalists’ killings in the past decade in the country. However, currently the military has been applying indirect ways of intimidation.

Stevan Butler, the Asia coordinator, the author of the report, while citing unexplained abductions and assaults, said,  “People in the military and sometimes in government have discovered that there are indirect ways of putting influence on the press.”

The CPJ report came at a time when newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan has been appreciating army and received 8-hour long long briefing by Inter Services Intelligence on Wednesday.  The general elections have triggered widespread allegations of the Pakistani army fixing the vote.

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India rejects Pakistan’s claims over Karachi attack, asks Islamabad to look inward

India has strongly rejected Pakistan’s allegations over the Karachi attack, asking Islamabad to focus on addressing terrorism within its own borders.

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India on Sunday strongly rejected Pakistan’s allegations linking New Delhi to the recent militant attack in Karachi, describing the accusations as “baseless” and urging Islamabad to focus on tackling terrorism operating from within its own borders.

Responding to the claims, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Pakistan should “look inward” rather than blame other countries for its internal security challenges. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India categorically rejects the allegations and termed them an attempt to divert attention from Pakistan’s domestic issues.

The remarks came after Pakistan alleged Indian involvement in the attack on a Pakistan Rangers headquarters in Karachi. Pakistani authorities claimed that militants targeted the security installation, leading to casualties among security personnel. However, India dismissed the accusations and reiterated its longstanding position that Pakistan must take credible action against terrorism and dismantle terror infrastructure operating from its soil.

Karachi attack and Pakistan’s allegations

According to Pakistani authorities, militants launched an assault on the Rangers’ provincial headquarters in Karachi, triggering an exchange of gunfire. At least three Rangers personnel were killed, while security forces said several attackers were neutralised during the operation. A militant group linked to the Pakistani Taliban reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

Despite these developments, Pakistan alleged external involvement in the attack, accusations that India has firmly denied. New Delhi maintained that Islamabad should concentrate on eliminating terrorist networks rather than making unsupported allegations against other countries.

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Pakistan hit by 5.5-magnitude earthquake, no casualties or damage reported

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake jolted Pakistan on Friday, with authorities reporting no immediate casualties or significant damage.

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earthquake-tremors

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Pakistan on Friday, sending tremors across several parts of the country. However, authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant property damage.

According to seismic monitoring agencies, the earthquake was recorded at a considerable depth, which may have reduced the impact on the surface. Residents in several cities reported feeling the tremors, prompting many to move outdoors as a precaution.

Emergency and disaster management authorities began assessing the situation soon after the quake. Initial assessments indicated that no major damage to infrastructure or loss of life had been reported. Officials continue to monitor the situation for possible aftershocks.

Pakistan lies in a seismically active region due to the interaction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making earthquakes a frequent occurrence in several parts of the country.

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Twin earthquakes strike Venezuela within 39 seconds, triggering panic in Caracas

Venezuela witnessed two powerful earthquakes within 39 seconds, triggering panic in Caracas, damaging infrastructure and leading authorities to declare a state of emergency.

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Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within just 39 seconds, causing widespread panic, damaging buildings and disrupting key infrastructure in and around the capital, Caracas.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake measured magnitude 7.2 and struck on Wednesday evening near the coastal town of Moron. Just 39 seconds later, a stronger 7.5-magnitude tremor hit roughly 45 kilometres away, creating what seismologists described as a “doublet” earthquake sequence.

The back-to-back quakes sent residents rushing into the streets as buildings shook violently across Caracas. Several structures suffered severe damage, with reports of building collapses in parts of the capital. Rescue workers were deployed to search through rubble while emergency teams assessed the extent of the destruction.

Visuals shared on social media showed scenes of chaos at Simon Bolivar International Airport, where parts of the terminal roof reportedly collapsed, filling sections of the facility with dust and smoke. Passengers were seen evacuating the airport as power flickered during the tremors. Authorities later announced the closure of the airport because of significant damage.

More than 20 aftershocks were recorded following the twin earthquakes, raising concerns about additional structural damage. The USGS warned that the disaster could result in significant casualties and economic losses, while landslides were also reported in affected areas.

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency following the earthquakes and urged citizens to remain cautious as emergency response efforts continued. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado also expressed solidarity with those affected by the disaster.

The earthquakes are being described as among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century. Authorities continue to assess the full scale of the damage and search for possible victims trapped beneath collapsed structures.

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