Pakistan was ranked as the 5th most violent place for journalists
Key Takeaways:
- In light of rising human rights violations by the media in Pakistan, PFUJ urged the Shehbaz government to protect media personnel and journalists' rights.
- PTI activists hassled media personnel, such as women journalists as well as anchors, who were harassed and also trolled by cabinet members, according to the statement.
- Physical assaults, kidnappings, enforced disappearances, imprisonment, torture, and fatal attacks are all threats to journalists.
On World Press Freedom Day, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) prompted the Shehbaz govt to protect media personnel and journalists' rights in light of rising human rights violations by the media in Pakistan.
This comes after the International Federation of Journalists ranked Pakistan as the fifth most dangerous country for journalists to work in (IFJ).
PFUJ president Shahzada Zulfiqar as well as secretary-general Nasir Zaidi emphasized the importance of press freedom, free speech, and expression in a joint statement issued on Monday. "Freedom of the press is a defining feature of any developed and healthy society, and it cannot be compromised," Dawn reported.
According to media reports, 138 journalists died in the line of duty in the country between 1990 and 2020.
"In at least 9 cases, journalists were intimidated or completely silenced, whether through assault, enforced disappearances, murder, or overt censorship," the PFUJ said, expressing concern about media freedom in Pakistan.
According to Dawn, they called the PTI government's tenure "devastating" for the media.
In addition, according to the statement, PTI activists harassed media personnel, including women journalists and anchors, who were harassed and trolled by cabinet members.
Those who refused to bow to the government's pressure were fined, which harmed both media companies and individuals, pushing the industry into financial ruin.
According to the statement, the government should immediately start creating an environment conducive to press freedom by engaging in a dialogue with stakeholders to develop a strategy to safeguard press freedom in the country.
Pakistan is still 1 of the top ten countries where predators of journalists and media go unpunished.
Journalists face various threats, including physical assaults, kidnappings, enforced disappearances, imprisonment, torture, and fatal attacks.