Pakistani Interior Ministry Probes Journalists for Publishing Pictures of Khashoggi

Freedom of the press watchdogs are up in arms tonight with the announcement that the Pakistani Interior Ministry has begun an investigation into the social media activities of six journalists who had posted pictures of murdered reporter Jamal Khashoggi.

The six were described as being “outspoken” on social media in the past, and the government believes the posts of Khashoggi’s image were a commentary of the visit of the Saudi Crown Prince to Pakistan.

A letter related to the investigation claimed that posting Khashoggi’s image online was a “very disrespectful message” toward the visiting prince, and officials suggested it was part of an organized campaign against the prince.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is generally accepted to have ordered Khashoggi’s murder, which was carried out by a “kill team” which included a number of his close allies. Khashoggi was a permanent resident of the US at the time, and was murdered in the Istanbul Consulate of Saudi Arabia.