JournalismPakistan.com | Published December 08, 2015
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad and Rawalpindi based journalists staged a sit-in Tuesday in front of Parliament House to press the government to provide security to all media houses.
The five-hour sit-in was organized by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and National Press Club. A large number of journalists chanted slogans demanding security. Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed assured the protesters that news organizations, press clubs and unions of journalists would be provided fool-proof security.
He said soon a meeting comprising representatives of PFUJ, All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) will be convened to decide on the security measures.
There has been a significant increase in attacks on media houses, the latest being a grenade attack on Express News bureau office in Sargodha that wounded a security guard Monday.
A similar attack on Din News Television office in Lahore on December 1 injured two policemen and an employee. Earlier in November, a grenade was hurled at Dunya News office in Faisalabad that injured three employees.
At Tuesday's protest Opposition Leader in National Assembly, Khursheed Shah, former Information Minister Qamar Zaman Qaira, and former Chief Minister of Balochistan Nawab Ghous Baksh made appearances to express solidarity with journalists.
President PFUJ Afzal Butt said that journalists were not safe anywhere. "Previously journalists were targeted on streets, now they are being attacked in their offices."
He lamented that had the killers of journalists been punished, the situation we face today would have been much different.
In the past 10 years 118 journalists and media workers have been killed in Pakistan, secretary of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists Bilal Dar said. "Despite this we couldn't be stopped from writing and reporting the truth."
Meanwhile, protests were also held in Lahore and Karachi where union leaders made speeches and called on the government to take immediate steps to prevent attacks on media, punish the perpetrators and ensure security to news orgaizations.
April 10, 2025: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.
April 08, 2025: Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
April 07, 2025: The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.
April 07, 2025: Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.
April 03, 2025: Veteran journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah has joined Discover Pakistan Television as the Head of Programming. With 25 years of experience in leading news organizations, he looks forward to contributing to quality storytelling and content.
April 02, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the visit of a group of Pakistani journalists to Israel, calling it a violation of journalistic ethics and a betrayal of press freedom and human rights. PFUJ demands a transparent investigation into the matter.
March 30, 2025: Dawn criticizes Pakistan’s plan to use TV dramas against extremism, highlighting financial and digital challenges. Can media alone solve deep-rooted issues?
March 28, 2025: An editorial in Dawn highlights how recent amendments to Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) are being used to target journalists, activists, and citizens, raising serious concerns about freedom of expression.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.
April 01, 2025 Assam Police arrested digital journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder for covering a protest against alleged corruption at Assam Co-Operative Bank. Media organizations have condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on press freedom.
March 29, 2025 A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle Voice of America (VOA), ruling that the move likely violated legal procedures. The decision protects over 1,200 journalists and media staff.
March 28, 2025 Turkey deports BBC journalist Mark Lowen over 'public order' threat and fines opposition TV channels covering Istanbul Mayor's arrest. Critics condemn crackdown on press freedom amid rising political tensions.