Voice of America: Rising Attacks on Pakistani Journalists, Social Media

In this file photo, Pakistani journalists and civil society activists hold placards against the attack on Ahmed Noorani, a senior journalist of a local newspaper who was attacked by people on motorbikes, during a protest in Karachi. (AFP)

June 6: Voice of America report by Ayaz Gul states that growing assaults against social media activists and journalists in Pakistan have alarmed defenders of free speech and human rights activists before the July 25 general election. There are also increasing allegations the military is also behind some of these incidents to stifle dissent. The latest incident occurred Tuesday when Gul Bukhari, who openly criticizes the military via social media and newspaper articles, was briefly abducted while she was on her way to participate in a television talk show in the eastern city of Lahore.