Pak rights body flays move to shut magazine

Pakistan's top rights body has flayed Balochistan provincial government's move to close down the monthly Sumalan, terming it a flagrant violation of the right to freedom of expression.

The Balochistan chapter of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has condemned the provincial government's decision to close down the magazine published from Balochistan.

The commission called the move a flagrant violation of the right to freedom of expression and an attack on the freedom of the press.

A statement by the HRCP said the situation in Balochistan was explosive and the government was aggravating rather than resolving matters.

"Abuse of fundamental human rights is rising extraordinarily. Instead of bringing about change, the government has aggravated the situation by banning the magazine, which had been publishing unbiased and impartial analysis on the state of affairs in the province," the Daily Times quoted the statement as saying.