Govt has failed to protect journalists: PFUJ chief

PFUJ president says many forces are actively curbing the freedom of press in Pakistan

BRUSSELS:

The president of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Jim Boumelha said Tuesday that sacrifices rendered by journalists for the freedom of press and media in Pakistan will not be in vain.

He was speaking to a delegation of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) at the IFJ head office in Brussels. Deputy secretary-general IFJ Anthony Bellanger was also present in the meeting. The PFUJ delegation was led by its president Rana Muhammad Azim.

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Azim said that many forces were actively curbing the freedom of press in Pakistan and that the government has failed to provide any security to them. Two journalists were killed in Karachi recently while 30 others have received death threats.

Boumelha said that the IFJ was concerned about the prevailing situation in Pakistan and that he has already written a letter to the government on issues facing journalists, including security.

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The delegation included PFUJ Assistant Secretary-General Ashraf Majeed, IUJ president Shakil Ahmed, FEC member Ashfaq Sajid and PFUJ Overseas president Asim Ayaz.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2015.