Fazal Amin Shinwari
Threats, arrests, and attacks against journalists in Pakistan saw a 60 Percent increase over the past eleven months, according to a report by the media watchdog Freedom Network released on Monday.
World Press Freedom Day was celebrated worldwide, including in Pakistan, on May 3rd. The UN General Assembly officially approved the day in 1993 to promote press freedom and raise awareness about the importance of free and independent media.
but Journalists in Pakistan face significant risks, as the country is known to be one of the most dangerous and unsafe places for them to work.
A report released before World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd showed that there were over 140 reported cases of threats and attacks against journalists in Pakistan over the past year, indicating a yearly rise of more than 60%.
According to the report, Islamabad was the most dangerous place for journalists in Pakistan, with 40% of violations occurring in the city, followed by Punjab (25%) and Sindh (23%).
The report also recorded the deaths of five journalists in Pakistan during the reviewed period, prompting Iqbal Khattak, the executive director of Freedom Network, to express concern about the surge in violence against journalists and call for immediate action.
Khattak highlighted that despite Pakistan being the first Asian country to pass laws on journalist safety in 2021, these laws have failed to protect journalists, resulting in a rise in violence against them. He called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to promptly establish the safety commission required by the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021, which was passed with bipartisan support, to provide assistance to journalists.
The report emphasized that attacks on independent journalism obstruct access to vital information, which is especially harmful during times of political and economic crises when the public needs reliable news to comprehend and respond to the situation. He added that the absence of the commission continues to foster impunity for crimes committed against journalists.
Khattak also urged Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to provide resources to the provincial safety commission established under the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners Act 2021, so that it can help journalists and empower them to combat the impunity of crimes committed against them in the province.
While the report’s findings serve as a warning to authorities to take immediate action to safeguard journalists and media professionals in Pakistan, uphold press freedom, and hold those responsible for violence against journalists accountable.
