Dear Friends, This is to inform you about the harassment that I am being subjected to. Those who know me are aware that I have never tried to politicize professional issue. I did not even register a case when I had my jaw and three ribs broken during BB's first government as I had suspicions that some of my friends were trying to settle personal and political scores through me. The letter to the president gives only a glimpse of the torture that I am being made to suffer.

There is a constant chasing and hounding of me, my family and guests. A day before they had this land cruisers with three sleuths, one of whom a known journalist colleague recognised as incharge of islamabad's spooks. He even went over to him to confirm if he was 'on duty' outside my house. On more than five times in the last fortnight my 'well connected friends and colleagues have advised me to stay away from my house. On another occasion a journalist friend claimed that they were about to pick me up but he got wind of that and used his connections to 'save' me. It's all getting on my nerves. my phones are constantly taped and i get anonymous calls by people who mouth nasty remarks, saying that I me as anti national, etc. Here is the letter that I have sent to the President.

President of Pakistan,
General Pervez Musharraf.

This is to inform you that I am constantly being chased, hounded and harassed by intelligence agencies. My telephone numbers are taped and I am chased by agency officials constantly. Even my associates and family members have been harassed on numerous occasions. I have been passed on this message through various sources that if I did not stop writing against the government I could be harmed physically. I did not want to make a political issue out of that and duly informed about my predicament to Information Secretary Anwer Mahmood on Friday. But my harassment has accelerated since then and I am openly being threatened that I might be picked up for physical thrashing. I have also been conveyed that being a heart patient "you will not be able to bear a day's torture" and that "the earlier treatment has not taught you any lesson."

I've been in this profession for over 16 years now and have never faced this kind of intimidation. I have no personal reasons to write against this government. I think I have been consistent in my interpretation of democracy, national interests and patriotism. I really don't know the reasons for this proactive intimidation. I hope that the government, which claims that it stands for a free press, will take notice of my complaint.

This is simply to inform you and my colleagues in journalism that if anything happens to me the responsibility would be on the military government and its agencies.

Amir Mateen
Daily The News, Islamabad.

Copy:

The Committee for the Protection of Journalists
Amnesty International
South Asia Forum for Media Affairs
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
Media Watch International
All Pakistan Newspaper Society
Pakistan Union of Journalists
Council for Publications and Newspaper Editors
Reporters Sans Border

Benazir Bhutto condemns harassment

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister and chairperson of Pakistan People's Party Benazir Bhutto on Sept 11 condemned the harassment and hounding of senior journalist Amir Mateen by the minions of the Musharraf regime to punish him exposing its corruption.

Senior journalist Amir Mateen in a letter addressed to Bhutto and several human rights and journalists bodies complained of being harassed and chased by agencies.

In his letter addressed to The Committee for the Protection of Journalists, Amnesty International, South Asia Forum for Media Affairs, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Media Watch International, All Pakistan Newspaper Society, Pakistan Union of Journalists, Council for Publications and Newspaper Editors and Reporters Sans Border, Mateen had complained that his harassment increased after his recent write-ups on electoral prospects and about Netsol, a company in which a top Musharraf aide has shares, getting the computerization project of the Election Commission.

"There is a constant chasing and hounding of my family, friends and guests", he complained.

In a statement Bhutto said that the continued harassment of senior journalists has exposed that the government has feet of clay and is mortally afraid of the exposure of its corruption and other misdeeds. She said that the PPP stood for a free and independent press and will do everything possible to ensure that this independence was not violated.

The former Prime Minister also urged the human rights bodies and the journalist's protection bodies to raise their voice against the harassment and intimidation of journalists in Pakistan.

Recently another senior journalist Shaheen Sehbai was harassed by institution of a case of robbery against him 18 months after the incident. The case was instituted by an employee of the Army's headquarters.

Bhutto said all freedom loving people admired the courage of journalists to continue exposing the wrongdoings of the regime, even against heavy odds.

 

Journalists Condemn Harassment

Information Minister Nisar Memon offers help to Amir Mateen

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