The 'Under Attack' page documents and highlights instances of violence, threats, and intimidation against journalists, news organizations, and press clubs across Pakistan since 2012. This section aims to shed light on the challenges media professionals face, their resilience in the face of adversity, and the broader implications for press freedom in the region. Some of the images in this section are graphic.
November 02, 2017: Militant threats have led to the closure of four press clubs in Balochistan, including Gwadar, Panjgur, Kharan, and Dalbadin. The closures highlight the severe risks faced by media in the region. Following threats from the Baloch Liberation Front, which warned of armed action against the media, a grenade attack was reported at Hub Press Club.
October 30, 2017: Unidentified armed men beat up an employee of Daily Qudrat and burnt the newspapers he was carrying in Suraj Ganj Bazaar, Quetta. This incident follows a series of threats from militant groups in Balochistan targeting media personnel.
October 27, 2017: Senior investigative journalist Ahmed Noorani of The News was attacked and seriously injured by unidentified men in Islamabad. This assault follows a similar attack on journalist Matiullah Jan, highlighting the ongoing threats to press freedom and journalist safety in Pakistan.
October 26, 2017: Unidentified gunmen attacked a minivan carrying newspapers in Awaran, Balochistan, burning the cargo and threatening the driver. This incident highlights the escalating threats and violence against media professionals in the province.
October 26, 2017: Unknown assailants attacked a newspaper distribution outlet in Turbat with a grenade, injuring several people, including a police constable and a child. This incident highlights the increasing threats and violence against media professionals in Balochistan.
October 25, 2017: The Hub Press Club in Balochistan was attacked with a hand grenade by the Baloch Liberation Front. No injuries or property damage occurred. Journalists in the province face escalating threats and violence from militant groups.
October 23, 2017: Newspaper distribution in Balochistan was disrupted following threats from the banned United Baloch Army. The group warned against journalists and media operations, affecting distribution from Quetta and Karachi. The Balochistan Union of Journalists has called for action in response to these threats.
October 09, 2017: Journalists in Kohlu district, Balochistan, have shut down the local press club in protest over ongoing harassment and violence by police. The decision follows recent arrests and equipment seizures by police. The Balochistan Union of Journalists has condemned the actions and demanded accountability.
October 07, 2017: Islamabad Police have registered an FIR against anchor Arshad Sharif following his revelation of an alleged Intelligence Bureau document linking 37 parliamentarians to militant organizations. The document's authenticity is contested by the IB. Sharif defends his source and the journalistic responsibility of his revelations.
September 26, 2017: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expresses concern over the thrashing of three television journalists by security guards at the Judicial Complex. He assures action and directs the State Minister of Interior to prevent such incidents in the future.
August 09, 2017: Television crews, including those from ARY and BOL, covering Nawaz Sharif's rally were harassed, threatened, and beaten by PML-N supporters. Incidents involved attempts to snatch cell phones and attacks on news vans. Opposition politicians condemn these attacks as assaults on press freedom.
August 09, 2017: Hasnain Ramal, a social media activist, was detained by police in Hunza under the Anti-Terrorism Act and Cyber Crime Act 2016 for his posts highlighting public issues. A joint investigation team is questioning him.
July 27, 2017: The Kharan Press Club in Balochistan is indefinitely shut down due to threats from an armed Baloch group. The decision comes at a meeting chaired by President Safar Khan Raskoi and highlights concerns over journalist safety.
July 21, 2017: Channel 24 reporter Saba Bajeer was harassed, mistreated, and threatened by FIA officials and the family of SECP Chairman Zafar Hijazi at PIMS. Colleagues and other journalists later protested, demanding legal action against the FIA.
July 09, 2017: Abdullah Zafar, a reporter with The Nation in Karachi, is picked up by individuals in plain clothes from his home. The Freedom Network demands his safe return. This incident follows the June detention of journalist Zafar Achakzai in Quetta by men in plainclothes and Frontier Corps uniforms for social media posts against security forces.
June 29, 2017: Senior journalist Raja Shakeel Ahmed Ghanchi was attacked by alleged drug peddlers in Badin for reporting on their illegal activities. The assailants, including notorious peddler Achar Mallah, beat the journalist at his home and threatened further violence.
June 20, 2017: A Samaa Television crew was beaten and their news gathering van damaged by security guards at the University of Agriculture. The attack, involving around ten guards, occurred while the crew was covering a student issue. Police arrived an hour late and did not intervene.
June 11, 2017: A journalist from The Express Tribune, Zubair Ashraf, was beaten by security guards of a Pakistan Muslim League-Functional leader for objecting to rash driving in Karachi. The incident occurred on Korangi Road, resulting in injuries to Ashraf.
June 10, 2017: Social activist Jibran Nasir reports that journalist Rana Tanveer, known for covering religious minorities, had his leg fractured by a car that attempted to run him over. Tanveer's home was vandalized with a death threat, and the police have shown little interest in addressing the threats.
June 08, 2017: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned death threats against Lahore-based journalist Rana Tanveer, following his coverage of religious minorities. The IFJ calls on the Pakistan government to ensure Tanveer's safety and launch an investigation into the threats.