Journalist Steven Butler was allowed entry into Pakistan on Thursday after eight hours of questioning at the Lahore airport.
According to the details, Buttler, the Asia programme coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is in Pakistan to attend the Asma Jahangir Conference–Roadmap for Human Rights in Pakistan.
Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s immigration officials stopped Butler at the airport, telling him that he was on an Interior Ministry “stop list”. However, they allowed him entry after approval from the Interior Ministry.
The journalist was added to the stop list by the PTI government after being deported from Pakistan in 2019.
The organiser of the event, Munizae Jahangir, also voiced concerns.
“The theme of this year’s conference itself was freedom of expression. If they are doing this to a member of a media watchdog what else is left?” she asked.
