Threat to journalists in Pakistan alarms Reporters Without Borders

RWB demands Human Rights Council to put Pakistani authorities on notice for protecting journalists from threats.

Reporters Without Borders expressed alarm over rising threats to the lives and safety of journalists working in Pakistan, ahead of the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan, the organisation said in a statement.

The organisation had recommended a series of measures designed to protect journalists in Pakistan in April. “A mere six months after our recommendations, media workers face even greater danger,” said Reporters Without Borders on the eve of the review.

“The number of journalists killed continues to increase, and most of the investigations opened into these murders remain inconclusive, contributing to an intolerable level of impunity.”

Since January last year, eight journalists have been killed in Pakistan, namely: Abdul Haq Baloch, Abdul Qadir Hajiazi, Abdul Razzaq Gul, Tariq Kamal, Aurengzeb Tunio, Murtaaza Razvi, Syed Saleem Shahzad, Mukarram Khan Aatif.

The organisation further demanded the Human Rights Council to put Pakistani authorities on notice that “journalists must be protected from the daily threat of violence from armed groups.”