People Conference on Monday condemned the police move to invoke Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against woman photojournalist Masrat Zahra under, saying free media was “lifeblood of democracy and it must not be silenced.”
“Isthis the new state of affairs? Things weren’t too good in the already butattempts to silence the media were not as brazenly & shamelesslyimplemented. Free press is lifeblood of democracy and must not be silenced. Weexpress our solidarity with Masrat Zahra,” said the party, in a statement.
The party generalsecretary Imran Reza Ansari demanded that police must drop the charges againstZahra. “The case under UA(P)A against a female journalist Masrat Zehra seems tobe an overreaction by the government and as such should be dropped.Constitutional guarantees can’t be undone”, he said
Theparty spokesperson Adnan Ashraf Mir also condemned invoking of UAPA against thejournalist and urged the authorities to drop charges against her. “Hounding Masrat Zahra andbooking her under unlawful activities act is a brazen attempt by the police.The principles of ‘Naya Kashmir’ seem to be against the ethos and practices ofdemocracy andfree speech. It is condemnable”, he said.