Has Writing the Truth Become a Crime?
Senior Journalist Rizwan Aslam Gondal Threatened for Exposing Corruption
By Muhammad Mansoor Mumtaz
When truth-tellers are intimidated, when those who raise their pens are silenced through threats, and when individuals exposing corruption are forced to fear for their lives, it becomes clear that the issue is no longer about a single person. It is an attack on the entire system of justice, democracy, and freedom of expression.
Senior journalist Rizwan Aslam Gondal is reportedly facing serious threats after publishing a report concerning alleged corruption. This is not merely a case of threats against one journalist; it is a warning sign for every member of the media who dares to bring facts to light in the public interest.
Journalism is often regarded as the fourth pillar of the state. Any attempt to weaken this pillar shakes the very foundation of society. Unfortunately, whenever the interests of influential or corrupt individuals are challenged, journalists are often the first to become targets. They face intimidation, pressure, character assassination, and in some cases, attempts to permanently silence their voices.
The situation confronting Rizwan Aslam Gondal today is not a test for one journalist alone; it is a test for the entire journalistic community. If journalists who expose corruption are not safe, who will hold the powerful accountable? If those who write the truth cannot protect their lives and livelihoods, who will ensure that the public remains informed?
At present, not only Rizwan Aslam Gondal but also his family members are living under immense psychological pressure and insecurity. A threat does not affect only one individual; it disturbs the peace and safety of an entire family. Is it not the responsibility of the state to protect those citizens who risk their lives in the fight against corruption and for the betterment of society?
We urge the Government of Punjab, the Crime Control Department, law enforcement agencies, and all relevant authorities to provide immediate and effective security to Rizwan Aslam Gondal. Those responsible for issuing threats must be identified, investigated transparently, and brought before the law so that no one in the future dares to intimidate journalists for performing their professional duties.
Journalist organizations, human rights bodies, the legal fraternity, and civil society must also raise their voices on this issue. Silence in the face of such threats only emboldens those who seek to suppress truth and accountability. If Rizwan Aslam Gondal is left alone today, another journalist may become the next target tomorrow.
The state must decide whether it stands with truth or with those who seek to suppress it. The rule of law demands that those issuing threats be held accountable, rather than forcing truth-seekers to live under the shadow of fear.
The protection of Rizwan Aslam Gondal is not merely the protection of one journalist; it is the protection of press freedom, democratic values, and the public’s right to information. The eyes of the nation are now on the institutions responsible for upholding justice. The time has come for concrete action to demonstrate that in Pakistan, the sanctity of the pen and the lives of journalists truly matter.
Because when the pen is silenced, society is pushed into darkness.
