IFJ Welcomes Dismissal Of Charges Against Pakistani Journalist In Cyberterrorism Case

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) welcomed on Wednesday the decision of a Karachi court to dismiss charges against Pakistani journalist Shahzeb Jillani, who had been accused of cyberterrorism

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd May, 2019) The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) welcomed on Wednesday the decision of a Karachi court to dismiss charges against Pakistani journalist Shahzeb Jillani, who had been accused of cyberterrorism.

The court dismissed on Saturday all charges against Shahzeb, a former BBC correspondent and local representative of the National Union of Journalists, who could have faced up to 14 years in jail for his coverage of the activities of the Pakistani military and intelligence services. The court ruled that there was insufficient evidence against him. During the court process, Shahzeb was fired from the Dunya News Network.

"This victory is only a partial one.

We demand the Dunya News Network reinstate Shahzeb and compensate him for all the harm he has suffered. This case illustrates the increasing pressure that journalists in Pakistan face when trying to report the news and was a clear attempt to muzzle independent voices. We urge authorities to stop harassing and prosecuting journalists for doing their job," IFJ Secretary General Anthony Bellanger said as quoted in a press release.

Jillani was accused of breaching several sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2016, namely cyberterrorism, hate speech and harming the reputation or privacy of a natural person, as well as several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code.