JournalismPakistan.com | Published November 02, 2024 at 12:40 pm | JP Staff Report
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD–On Saturday, Pakistan's Daily Dawn highlighted the growing dangers faced by journalists, particularly in areas plagued by conflict, and called on the state to protect them by ensuring that crimes against media professionals do not go unpunished. In an editorial published on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the newspaper stressed the urgent need to protect journalists and hold perpetrators accountable.
The editorial cited recent attacks, particularly in Gaza, where conflict has claimed the lives of 134 journalists since hostilities intensified last year, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Pakistan's press also operates under significant threat, with over 150 journalists killed in the last 24 years.
Acknowledging the critical need for protection, Dawn highlighted the grim statistic from Pakistan, where six journalists were killed in less than a year, from November 2023 to August 2024. The editorial expressed regret that a "culture of impunity"” persists, exposing journalists to continuous risks without accountability for crimes committed against them.
A report by the Freedom Network, cited in Dawn's editorial, revealed that nearly half of reported violations against journalists were attributed to government authorities, with political parties involved in 12 percent of cases. "Unknown actors" were responsible for 25 percent, underscoring the difficulty in addressing these crimes.
To combat impunity, Dawn emphasized the need for rigorous enforcement of the 2021 Journalist Protection Act and for thorough investigations into attacks on journalists. The newspaper stressed that accountability is essential to dismantle the existing culture of impunity, which continues to pose an existential threat to journalists in Pakistan and beyond.
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.