Their statements are below. The arrest of Najam Sethi, editor of The Friday Times, and attacks against other journalists in Pakistan, mark a grave setback to Pakistani democracy. NGOs in the United States who care about Pakistan's future call for the release of Najam Sethi and the cessation of harassment to journalists. One important measure of Pakistan's development and growth is the extent to which its media are free to report the news. The news is not always positive in Pakistan, and the print media within the country have worked hard to promote accountability.
Corrupt practices are a great impediment to a better future for Pakistan.
If courageous media persons are victimized by the political leadership and security forces of the state, Pakistan is badly tarnished and the country's future is jeopardized. These recent developments mark a grave setback for press freedom in Pakistan, and have threatened Pakistan's quest for accountability and democracy. Pakistan cannot reach its potential without a free press. Friends of Pakistan in the United States will hold Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif personally responsible for the release and well-being of these journalists. No government can pursue a creative foreign and defense policy for very long without running into the opinion of the people that matter the most its own public.