ISLAMABAD: The journalist community has raised alarm over what it terms an “unfair and targeted trial” of senior reporter Shahbaz Rana, warning that the case reflects a dangerous trend of using the legal system to intimidate the press in Pakistan.
In an emergency meeting held at the National Press Club, representatives of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) denounced the indictment of Rana by a local court. They stressed that the journalist had merely reported facts based on official records, yet is being dragged through a prolonged and biased legal process.
“This is not just about one journalist it is about silencing critical voices in the media,” one participant remarked, emphasizing that the trial undermines the constitutional right to freedom of expression.
The case stems from a complaint lodged by an official of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), who alleged that Rana’s report was defamatory. Journalist bodies, however, reviewed the content of the report and concluded that it was factual, supported by documents from the official record. They argued that instead of addressing the substance of the revelations, state institutions are attempting to “shoot the messenger.”
Journalists’ unions have announced plans to stage protests, framing Rana’s case as part of a broader crackdown on independent reporting. They warned that if such actions go unchallenged, they would set a precedent where investigative journalism could be criminalized, leaving reporters vulnerable to harassment and legal persecution.
Media observers say the trial not only puts Rana in the dock but also sends a chilling message across newsrooms: any report that exposes institutional shortcomings could invite legal retribution. Rights groups have previously cautioned that shrinking press freedom in Pakistan poses serious risks to democracy, transparency, and accountability.
“The free press is under siege,” a joint statement by PFUJ and RIUJ declared. “Targeting journalists through courts is nothing less than an attempt to muzzle dissent and control the flow of information.”
