An incident of misconduct with a female journalist and obstruction of media coverage occurred during an event attended by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi at IM Sciences, an educational institution in Peshawar.
Although the media had been formally invited to cover the event, Pakhtun Digital’s reporter Rani Andaleeb stated that she was stopped from reporting by the Chief Minister’s security staff.
According to Rani Andaleeb, she was not only prevented from covering the event inside the hall but was also barred from recording outside afterward. She added that the restrictions began after she asked Chief Minister Sohail Afridi a question regarding the condition of universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The journalist further said that if the government truly claims to uphold democratic values and freedom for youth, then such actions raise serious questions about the nature of that freedom.
Following the incident, concerns have been expressed within journalistic circles, while no official statement has yet been issued by the authorities.
It is worth noting that Peshawar University Teachers Association has recently sent a letter to CM about the financial crisis of the university and the unpaid salaries and pensions of university employees.
The letter has taken into account the non-payment of half salaries for March and the withholding of 162 million rupees in pensions .
Government cuts in university grants and policies of leaving institutions abandoned in the name of financial autonomy have now forced teachers to come out onto the streets.
Also Read: PTI’s educational emergency claims questioned as University of Peshawar struggles to survive
