Srinagar, November 09: In Srinagar, a forum of journalists in Kashmir has strongly condemned the threats issued by former Senior Superintendent of Police and senior People’s Democratic Party leader, Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari to the editor of a local daily Kashmir reader and prominent journalist Showket Ahmad Motta.
Kashmir Journalists Corps (KJC) in a statement issued in Srinagar said that editor of Kashmir Reader, Showkat A Motta, who is one of the founding members of the forum, was threatened by Bukhari over telephone. This followed the report published in the newspaper about Bukhari sharing stage with PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Saeed in Kupwara.
“Bukhari threatened to teach Showkat a lesson for carrying the news item. The newspaper had fully fulfilled its journalistic obligation when it called Bukhari on Thursday for his comment on the story. The newspaper had also talked to PDP leaders and quoted them in the story keeping in view the journalist ethics and duties,” the group said.
A meeting of the forum was held in Srinagar, the other day, to discuss the issue. Members present in the meeting expressed anger and dismay over Bukhari’s conduct. Taking serious note of the threat, members termed it as an infringement with the freedom of expression.
“KJC wants to put it on record that if anything happens to Showkat or any other member, Bukhari would be wholly and solely responsible,” the statement read further.