ANP terms proposed law on journalists in KP against constitutional freedoms, press freedom

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Jul, 2026) The Awami National Party (ANP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday termed the controversial law relating to journalists in the province as being against constitutional freedoms and freedom of the press.

In a statement, ANP KP Spokesperson Arsalan Khan Nazim said the law concerning restrictions on journalists and media amounted to a direct attack on democratic values, constitutional freedoms and press freedom.

He alleged that the legislation was aimed at curtailing the public's right to information and discouraging criticism of the government's performance.

The spokesperson further claimed that efforts to keep the law away from public and media scrutiny even after its approval reflected what he described as the government's lack of transparency.

Arsalan Khan Nazim alleged that the law granted extraordinary powers to the Speaker to bar journalists from covering assembly proceedings, restrict the publication or broadcast of proceedings, and impose penalties, including imprisonment and fines, on journalists critical of the Speaker or the Assembly.

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He said existing legal mechanisms were already available to address cases involving false reporting or distortion of facts, adding that introducing new criminal provisions to deal with journalists was unacceptable.

Calling for the immediate withdrawal of the law, the ANP spokesperson said the party would continue to support freedom of the press, democratic traditions and the public's right to information.

He also urged journalists' bodies, lawyers, civil society organisations, political parties and all democratic stakeholders to raise a united voice against the legislation.