Pakistan continues to witness a deadly trend of fatal violence against journalists as it yet again leads a violent year for journalists, states a new report.
Second only to Iraq, of the 44 journalists who were killed this year, eight of them died in Pakistan, according to a list maintained by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN IFRA).
Last year Pakistan had lost 10 journalists. 2010, when 99 journalists were killed, Mexico shared the podium spot with Pakistan.
(Read: Pakistan 10th on list of deadliest places for journalists: Report)
The trend is more worrisome given the lack of accountability and justice for journalists. Among the cases this year include the torture and murder of Asia Times bureau chief, Saleem Shehzad for his reporting on the Taliban and the assassination of Wali Khan Babar along with a host of other names belonging to smaller publications.
(Read: UN urges Pakistan to probe journalist killings)
In fact, experience is not a criterion set by those who murder journalists in Pakistan. In June, a trainee reporter attached with The News Peshawar Daily was killed.
The list, which has been maintained since 1998, depicts a worrying trend in Pakistan for journalists. From no casualties in 1998, the deaths have jumped to 10 and eight for the past two years. Even in 2006, the bloodiest year for journalists for the last decade, Pakistan lost only four journalists in comparison with Iraq, which had lost a staggering 45.
Timeline of journalists killed in Pakistan (2011)
January 3
Ilyas Nizzar, reporter, Darwanth newsmagazine
January 13
Wali Khan Babar, reporter, Geo TV
February 18
Abdost Rind, report, Daily Eagle
May 10
Nasrullah Afridi, journalist, Mashriq daily
May 31
Syed Saleem Shahzad, bureau chief, Asia Times Online
June 11
Asfandyar Abid Naveed, reporter, Akhbar-i-Khyber daily
June 11
Shafiullah Khan, trainee reporter, The News Peshawar Daily
August 14
Muneer Shakir, journalist and correspondent, Online News Network and Sabzbaat TV
COMMENTS (17)
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Pakistani journalists need to control their tongue and passion, they are like immature children who speak without thinking....May God help them.
Reason for deaths of Pakistani journalists is mainly because of Pakistani media owners, one calls himself defender of journalism, Owais Aslam Ali, chairman pakistan press foundation, pakistan press international, nephew of former late aslam ali. Many journalist have come forward but no action has been taken as this man continues to make local journalists mainly from small towns victim to forign hands. this number will go up in future also and he continues malpractice.
A shameful figure for being No. 1
There was a report in Western press about the office in Pakistan that ordered the murder of journalism Saleem Shehzad. That office is the most powerful in Pakistan.
@rehmat: I am an indian and a hindu by belief (not meant fascistly) and let me put another sincere disclosure that i am not really comfortable appreciating a pakistani but i have to say pakistani reporters do have lot of guts to report things despite being shot at and killed. Some hope for us indians that someone there is really a follower of a peaceful and truthful religion and actually believes in bring out the truth in its nudity. Not that i am undermining the indian reporters but they are sufficiently protected by their own colleagues (even competetors). Just that it requires a lot more 'jigar' to talk back to self proclaimed lords and stand your ground in turbulent times. I wish all those trying to save whatever innocence is left in pakistan a very best of luck.. May god be with you...
vibrant, free media + absence of rule of law = a lot of dead reporters
No.1 yet again ! Congratulations !!
Cheee. What a dirty state of affairs. Pathetic.
At least we have achieved the top spot at something!!!
But seriously, Pakistani journalists have made the profession proud, by any standard.
I agree Pakistani journalists are quite courageous.
Pakistani Journalists are more courageous than any other Journalist of the world. Pakistani Journalists speaks the truth and people who are affected after the real story is published against them do not like this. This is one of the core reasons that every now and then Pakistani Journalists are killed in Pakistan. It is the duty of Pakistani Journalists to unveil the stories to tell to the people as what is wrong and what is right.
'Free to kill journalists' was what they really meant by 'free media'...
Iraq and Mexico probably have better chances in improving than Pakistan does...
Give me the liberty to utter, to argue with conscience, among all liberties- Milton.
Sooner the PAK learns this better off she will be.
Sad