Acting President and PM vow to protect journalists' rights

Acting President, Prime Minister issue message for International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.

In a message commemorating the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan's strong commitment to press freedom and freedom of expression.

Acting President Gilani emphasised that press freedom is essential for democratic stability and transparency in Pakistan. He asserted that violence against journalists undermines democracy.

Gillani noted that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the rights to freedom of expression, press freedom, and access to information. He highlighted that measures are in place to protect journalists and media workers within the country.

The Acting President pointed to the passage of the Journalists and Media Workers Protection Act 2021 and the introduction of health insurance for journalists as significant steps toward their protection.

He called for an integrated strategy and comprehensive system to enhance journalist safety. Addressing the situation in Palestine, Gillani condemned the killings of numerous journalists due to Israeli bombardments in conflict-affected areas, particularly in Gaza.

He cited United Nations reports indicating that over 130 journalists have been killed in Gaza, urging the international community to hold Israel accountable for its actions against journalists.

In his message, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif stressed that press freedom is untenable without journalist protection. He acknowledged the relentless efforts of journalists worldwide, including in Pakistan, to keep the public informed.

The Prime Minister lamented the numerous challenges journalists face in their pursuit of truth, including violence, threats, kidnapping, and even murder.

He noted that journalists continue to risk their lives in conflict zones to fulfill their reporting responsibilities, highlighting that despite international conventions concerning Gaza, many journalists have been deliberately targeted to suppress the truth.

Shehbaz Sharif recognised the significant sacrifices made by journalists in Pakistan for democracy, constitutional supremacy, and the rule of law.

He affirmed the government's commitment to prioritise the rights and protection of journalists, emphasising that measures will be taken to ensure their safety and to hold accountable those who perpetrate crimes against them.

2024 most perilous year for Pakistani journalists

The message fromthe acting-President and Prime Minister comes a day after the Freedom Network's Impunity Report 2024 marked 2024 as one of the deadliest for journalists in Pakistan, with the documenting multiple targeted killings and a shocking 57 violations against media professionals.

The report reveals that six journalists and one YouTuber were killed, while at least 57 incidents—including threats, assaults, and legal harassment—were reported. It underscored the persistent culture of impunity for these crimes, worsened by the inaction of provincial authorities.

Although laws exist to safeguard journalists, their effectiveness in addressing impunity has been minimal, the report said.

Spanning incidents from November 2023 to August 2024, the report details 11 assassination attempts, including five lethal attacks on journalists and digital media practitioners. It also notes a geographic distribution of these violations, with Sindh accounting for 37%, followed by Punjab at 23%, Islamabad at 21%, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 12%, and Balochistan at 3.5%.

Television journalists were particularly affected, making up 53% of the violations, followed by print journalists at 35%, digital media practitioners at 10%, and radio journalists at 2%. Female journalists reported 9% of the total incidents, highlighting the gender-based risks within the profession.

Additionally, the report introduced Pakistan’s first "Media Impunity Index," assessing each region's progress in developing protective measures for journalists.