Report finds grim picture of journalism in Pakistan

At least 148 cases of attacks and violations against the media and its practitioners, including journalists, took place over the course of one year – between May 2020 and April 2021. This is an increase by over 40pc from the 91 cases of violations documented in the preceding year (May 2019-April 2020), said the report which has been launched on the eve of the World Press Freedom Day celebrated on 3rd May every year, reports The News International.

“The increase in attacks on the media and its practitioners in Pakistan points to a collective failure of the government and state of Pakistan to honor commitment of upholding peoples’ right to speak in a fear-free environment,” Iqbal Khattak, Executive Director of Freedom Network, told the newspaper.

He said record registration of 27 legal cases against journalists proved the biggest threat journalists faced during the reporting period as the threat actors moved to adopt sophistication in silencing dissenting voices.

“Laws must protect journalists instead of silencing them,” Iqbal Khattak said.

Among the most dangerous places to practice journalism were no longer Balochistan or former tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan. Islamabad emerged as the riskiest and most dangerous place for journalists in the period under review with 34% of the violations (51 out of total 148 cases) recorded in the federal capital, the newspaper reported.