Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and the National Press Club (NPC) have expressed serious concerns about what they called a “unilated trial
At an emergency meeting chaired by the president of the PFUJ, Afzal Butt, at the National Press Club, the participants examined the Rana investigation report, which, according to them, was entirely based on official documents, documents and even video evidence of the Prime Minister.
Despite this, they noted, civil and criminal procedures had been initiated against him, while none of the other respondents appointed in petition 1, including the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Secretary of Finance, the Interior Secretary, the Secretary of Establishment and Igalabad IG, had been issued.
The meeting condemned the actions of the court of first instance in violation of the principles of fair trial. The President of the PFUJ Butt urged Islamabad High Court to intervene immediately, stressing that refusing an eminent investigative journalist the right to a fair hearing raises serious questions on the judicial system and has caused a deep concern in the community of journalists.
