Journalists covering events in Pakistan should be allowed to do their jobs: US Spokesman Matthew Miller

State Department official spokesman Matthew Miller told a press briefing on Thursday (local time) that the US expects journalists covering events in Pakistan should be allowed to do their jobs. He stressed that a free and independent press is "vital".
In response to a question regarding the ban on media coverage of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan by the Pakistan government and the military, Matthew Miller said that we generally urge all governments to respect the role of journalists and the media. Are. We believe that the press performs an important function in democratic societies.
He said that we expect the journalists covering the events in Pakistan should be allowed to do their job. A free press is an important, core institution that underpins healthy democracies by ensuring that voters can make informed decisions and hold government officials accountable.
Matthew Miller also denied Imran Khan's allegations against the US and called them all "false". He further said that Pakistani politics is a matter for the people of the country to decide and not for the US government.
Asked about Imran Khan's allegations that US policies led to his downfall, Miller said, "I would say we've talked about this in the past." Those allegations are absolutely false.
Pakistani politics is a matter for the people of Pakistan to decide according to their own constitution and laws. They are not a matter for the United States government.
Meanwhile, Pakistan police have arrested two more journalists on charges of sedition and terrorism related to the May 9 incident, Dawn reported. Anchorpersons Sabir Shakir and Moeed Peerzada were booked in connection with the incident where an angry mob damaged property at Melody Chowk.
The complainant said that the mob received instructions through video messages from Sabir Shakir, Moid Hasan Peerzada, and Syed Akbar Hussain.
According to the FIR, the complainant was present at Melody Chowk in the May 9 incident when an angry mob damaged property on the instructions of Sabir Shakir, Moeed Hasan Peerzada, and Syed Akbar Hussain through video messages.
Earlier, journalists Shaheen Sehbai and Wajahat Saeed Khan, YouTuber Adil Raja (a former army officer), and anchorperson Syed Haider Raza Mehdi were also arrested in the same case.
On 9 May, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan was arrested in the Islamabad High Court in the Al Qadir Trust case.
Following his arrest, protests broke out in Pakistan, and military installations including the Lahore Corps Commander's residence and state properties were attacked in Pakistan.
In an FIR lodged on Monday, complainant Muhammad Aslam said he was passing through Islamabad's G-11 area on May 9 when he saw 20-25 people including Adil Raja, Wajahat Saeed Khan, Syed Haider Raza Mehdi and Shaheen Sehbai were seen sharing screenshots of tweets and video messages.