JournalismPakistan.com | Published April 24, 2014
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said Thursday it is concerned at signs of disunity among the media and called for unity in addressing challenges.
HRCP General Secretary I. A. Rehman, speaking at the launch of their annual report - State of Human Rights in 2013 - said allegations leveled against the security agencies in the aftermath of the attack on television anchor Hamid Mir were serious.
"We need to give time to investigators to come up with results," he said while adding he was against banning any media group.
He said the HRCP was concerned over attacks on journalists. The annual report says 11 Pakistani journalists were killed and several others injured doing their work in 2013 and impunity continued for perpetrators.
The report said Pakistan stands 159th out of 179 countries on the World Freedom Index. It pointed out that curbs on Internet grew, YouTube was not revived and other websites were blocked without prior intimation.
In its recommendations to improve freedom of expression, the HRCP recommended:
1. People's access to documents pertaining to the working of government, budget allocations, surveys and inquiry reports should be ensured without reservations and delay.
2. Prosecution and conviction of the killers of journalists should be ensured so as to deter fresh attacks. The journalists facing threats should be provided security.
3. Journalists, especially those working in conflict and tribal areas, should be given health and life insurance and provided support commensurate with the risks they face. The family of deceased or disable journalists should be compensated.
4. The government should refrain from banning, blocking and restricting access to website and pages on the Internet. Websites such as YouTube and others should be unblocked.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
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?
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.