By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
KHYBER: Aman Ali Shinwari, president of the District Press Club Khyber, has received death threats through a threatening social media post, prompting strong condemnation from the journalist community and calls for immediate police action.
According to a press release issued by the District Press Club Khyber on Sunday, the threatening post featured Shinwari’s photograph marked with a red cross, apparently signalling a threat to his life. The post also warned other journalists against publishing messages in his support, threatening that they too could be targeted.
The press club strongly condemned the threats, describing them as a serious attack on press freedom and freedom of expression. It called upon the police, human rights and journalists protection organizations to take immediate notice of the incident and ensure the safety of journalists.
Journalists in Khyber district have repeatedly faced threats, intimidation and pressure from different quarters while performing their professional duties. The persistent threats have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, forcing media workers to operate under immense psychological and professional pressure.
Last year, Khalil Jibran Afridi, former president of the Landikotal press club and a prominent journalist, was shot dead near his home. He was reportedly hit by around 20 bullets. His killing sent shockwaves through the journalist community and further intensified concerns about the safety of media workers in the region.
Several other journalists have also reportedly received death threats over their reporting and professional activities. Despite these challenges, journalists continue to cover public issues, human rights violations and the security situation in the conflict-affected Khyber district.
The journalist community has maintained that differences of opinion and criticism should be addressed through facts and arguments rather than threats and violence. It stressed that journalists cannot be silenced through intimidation and that targeting media workers is a direct threat to independent journalism.
The District Press Club Khyber has appealed to the Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), and the District Police Officer (DPO) Khyber to take immediate notice of the threats, conduct a transparent investigation, bring those responsible to justice, and ensure effective security arrangements for Aman Ali Shinwari and all journalists working in
