Pakistani American Press Association Condemns Threats Against Journalist Imtiaz Chandio
WASHINGTON: The Pakistani American Press Association, the largest organization representing Pakistani journalists in the United States, has strongly condemned what it described as serious threats directed at Houston-based journalist Imtiaz Chandio, warning that intimidation of reporters for exposing alleged corruption undermines democratic norms.
In a statement issued this week, PAPA President Khurram Shehzad and Executive Committee member Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada said Mr. Chandio, who commands millions of followers across social media platforms, has for years reported on alleged corruption within the provincial government of Sindh, including claims of bureaucratic misconduct and impropriety involving influential officials. Through video blogs and investigative reports, they said, he has presented documentation and evidence to inform the public, an act they described as central to the practice of journalism.
The statement cited a recent episode in Sindh in which a senior police official, a deputy inspector general, was accused of orchestrating the abduction of a businessman who was later released. Mr. Chandio discussed the allegations on his digital platforms, after which, according to PAPA, he began receiving threats from various accounts originating in Pakistan, including warnings of physical harm.
“Harassing journalists for speaking truth to power is incompatible with democratic values,” Mr. Shehzad said, adding that while Mr. Chandio resides in the United States and benefits from legal protections here, threats tied to any potential travel to Pakistan raise serious concerns about press freedom and personal safety.
The association called on Pakistan’s prime minister and relevant authorities to take immediate notice of the matter, investigate those responsible for issuing threats and ensure that journalists can carry out their professional responsibilities without fear of reprisal.
Mr. Shehzad also urged international human rights organizations and media watchdog groups to monitor the situation closely, framing the episode as part of a broader challenge facing independent journalism in politically sensitive environments.
