PAKISTAN: 04 journalists and 05 support staff shot dead

Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 4:37 PM

A Statement from the Asian Human Rights Commission on this year 

38 injured and 06 others received death threats 

The Asian Human Rights Commission has received shocking reports of journalists having to face the worst ordeals possible, during the course of the year 2014. Four journalists and five of their supporting staff have been killed by “un-known” persons and more than 38 journalists were attacked and injured by the police and mostly by those representing political parties who are conducting political agitation in the country’s capital Islamabad calling for the government to step down on charges of mass corruption.

Pakistan is ranked 158 out of 180 countries in this year’s World Press Freedom Index and has one of the highest murder rates for journalists. As is evident from this statement there is almost no space for freedom of expression in the country which provides a free playing field for law enforcement authorities and extremist religious forces particularly the militant groups – to act as they please. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced the appointment of a Commission for the protection of journalists but it has remained as only an announcement and no further action has been taken in that regard. Still no mechanisms have been developed to stop the attacks on the media houses. The political parties, the pressure groups and religious militant groups in an effort to dictate their policies continuously attack media houses and journalists.

Several media houses including the Pakistan Television (PTV), the official government channel, was attacked by hundreds of political activists, supporters of Imran Khan, a cricketer turned politician and Dr. Tahirul Qadri, a Pakistani born Canadian national. Broadcasts were stopped for 40 minutes following the capture of the station and after hundreds of people, many armed with sticks, ransacked the Pakistan Television building in central Islamabad, smashing vehicles in the parking lots and cutting transmission cables in the newsrooms. The network said that at least 14 cameras had been stolen.

Reports revealed that on the instructions from the Pakistan Army - by a mere gesture of raising a finger - the army abandoned the occupation of PTV building. However, during this period protesters have attacked and injured more than 100 policemen - as police have been given instructions not to use fire arms against the agitators. A senior police officer, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) was beaten in front of PTV building and has been seriously injured. More than 100 persons inside the PTV building were also harassed and beaten and one lady anchor person has been abused by the protesters.

About half a dozen senior journalists have received death threats from “unknown persons”. However, it is generally a known fact that these ‘un-known persons’ are those representing the various state intelligence agencies.

Following is a list of names of injured persons from the different media houses;

Khuram Shazad, Cameraman, Sama TV,

Awais Qazi, Cameraman, Sama TV,

Amir Syed Ababs, Reporter, Sama TV,

Atif Yousef, Cameraman, Waqt TV,

Imran Iqbal, Cameraman waqt TV,

Muhammad Zahid DSNG Engineer, Waqt TV,

Jameel Kayani, Driver, Waqt TV,

Essa Naqvi, Reporter, Duniya TV,

Hassan Ayub, Reporter, Dunya TV,

Dan, Engineer, Dunya TV,

Anjum Fatimi, Cameraman, Dunya TV,

Asif Abduulah, Cameraman, Ary News,

Iqbal zeb,cameraman, Ary News,

Kashif Abbasi, Cameraman, Dawn News,

Noshad Abbasi, Cameraman, Dawn News,

Kashif Malik, Reporter, Dawn News,

Samar Ababs, Reporter, Dawn News,

Ishfaq Hussan, Cameraman, Dawn News,

Imran Chudry, Cameraman, Dawn News,

Mansoor Ahmed, Cameramen, Dawn News,

Amir Alam, Cameraman, Eexpress News,

Majid Shah, Cameraman, Express News,

Usman Afzal, Cameraman, Express News,

Bakhat Zameen, Driver, Express News,

Rana Tariq, Reporter, Aaj Tv,

Haroon Khurshid, Cameraman, Aaj Tv,

Ghulam Ali, Cameraman, Aaj Tv,

Azad Syed, Star Reporter, Geo Tv,

Arshad Syed, Senior Reporter,

Farhat Jabeen, Senior Reporter,

Saif-ur-Rehman, Journalist, Geo Tv,

Shabir Ahmed, Cameraman, Geo Tv,

Khuram Shahzad, Cameraman, Geo Tv,

Ihsan Ali, Bureau Chief, Mashiq,

Arshad Waheed, Senior Reporter

Ajab Khan, Cameraman Sama Tv.

Ghulam Shahzad, Cameraman Geo Tv,

Essa Ali, Bureau Chief Mashriq

Received threats from ‘unknown persons’

Kamran Shafi, Senior journalists

Ahmed Noorani, The News Reporter,

Ajab Khan, Cameraman Sama Tv.

Omar Quereshi, editor Express tribune and contributor to DW

Four Journalists and five supportive staff killed

In another recent event, on 28^th August 2014, the office of the Online International News Network in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan Province, was attacked by “unknown persons” who had shot dead three persons including a prominent journalist, Irshad Mastoi, a trainee journalist, Ghulam Rasool and an accountant. No one has been arrested for the shooting. Since the year 2001, when military operations started in the different parts of Balochistan, to-date 40 journalists have been killed by “un-known persons” and not a single attacker has ever been tried before a court of law.

The phenomena of “unknown persons” has been introduced by the successive military governments which gives impunity to these ‘killers’ and it has been a  common occurence, following  the incident of 9/11 when the military government of General Pervez Musharraf received support from the international community on the “war against terrorism”. Since then, journalists have always been at the receiving end of attacks from these “un-known persons”. Moreover, journalists have increasingly been involved in several incidents of forced disappearances and extra judicial killings including target killings and “un-known persons” have been attributed in all such acts.

On 14^th February2014,   a correspondent for the ‘Daily Intekhab’ was attacked and killed in Khuzdar, in Balochistan by “un-known persons”. Prior to his killing, he has been receiving death threats from such persons for reporting on disappearances and extra judicial killings.

On 1^st January 2014, a reporter for “Abb Tak Television” was shot dead; shot in the back, while filming outside a pharmacy near the Badah Press Club in Larkana, in the Sindh Province.  The army claimed that the video which he was recording at the time showed medication Dahar bought at a pharmacy which had a "not for resale" stamp on it – and the journalist was killed a few minutes after.

On 17^th January 2014, in the North Nazimabad area in Karachi, the capital of Sindh Province, the vehicle – a van belonging to Express TV was attacked in the early hours by “un-known persons” killing three supporting staff working for the TV channel. They wereWaqas Aziz Khan, Mohammad Khalid, and Ashraf Arain. The cameraman was sleeping at the rear seat of the van and thus escaped unhurt.  The Express TV was also targeted by Taliban and other militant groups for criticizing the resurgence of Islamic militancy.

In yet another incident, Geo TV, one of the biggest channels in Pakistan, is continuously under pressure from the ISI – the infamous army intelligence agency for the past four months for naming the involvement of the ISI in the attempted murder of a prominent anchorperson, Mr. Hamid Mir, who received six bullet shots by “un-known” persons while he was travelling in his car.

Since January 2013 to date 19 journalists and 10 supporting staff have been killed and no person has been arrested for these killings.  The tribal area of Khyber Pakhtunkha (KP) Province and Balochistan remained the ‘killing fields’ where most journalists have been attacked and killed.

Attacks and death threats to journalists

Raza Rumi, the anchorperson of Express TV was attacked by “un-known persons” on March 28^th 2014, in the city of Lahore, the capital of Punjab Province. He received minor injury but his driver was killed. Rumi was receiving life threats through unidentified telephone calls. After the attack he has fled the country.

On 19^th April 2014, a prominent journalist and an anchorperson for GEO TV was critically wounded by six bullets as explained above. The assailants yet remain unknown. He and his family members accuse the ISI and its chief general Zaheerul Islam of organizing the attempted murder.

TV host Imtiaz Alam has also been receiving death threats. A few months ago TV anchor Jasmin Manzoor reportedly cried in front of the Prime Minister and begged for her life. She was threatened to be killed allegedly by a political party, the MQM and then she had to flee the country.

On 22^nd August 2014, a prominent columnist for various local and international newspapers and a retired army officer, Kamran Shafi received death threats by mail, from a group claiming themselves to be the ‘Khaki power’ (a term is used for army persons) and these threats have continued for several days. In the threatening mails his nick name which was used during his service in the army has been referred to – a nickname, he claims was only privy to him and his army colleagues.

In the first week of September, Omar Quereshi, the editor of editorial page of Express Tribune and contributor to the German broadcasting house, the DW, has received death threat messages in his private email account.

On 2^nd May 2014, GEO TV’s news cameraman Asif Kabir was travelling to the channel’s office in Model Town A, Bahawalpur, Punjab, when three motorcyclists wearing helmets had stopped him. The three men had called him a traitor and an Indian agent and then had assaulted him in broad daylight. The assault left him badly injured and reports stated that the persons had also attempted to steal his camera. As of this date neither case nor investigation has commenced by the police into this incident.

These reports were extracted from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters without Borders and various other media houses in Pakistan;

Jamshed Baghwan, Express News TV’s Bureau Chief in Peshawar experienced a gruesome third attempt on his life by unknown persons. Unknown persons have set up an explosive device outside his house in Peshawar, capital of KP Province. The devise was left in a milk pack in front of the house by men on a motorcycle. The bomb damaged the outside of the building but caused no injuries. This followed an 11-month long string of attacks on the Express Media group personnel and their installations. Some of these attacks have been claimed by the Taliban.

In another incident, unidentified gunmen torched cable TV operator WorldCall’s premises in the southern city of Karachi on 19^th July 2014 in order to silence the embattled TV news station Geo News. WorldCall had only recently resumed transmission of Geo News, which the government suspended for 15 days last month. Police and witnesses said between four - six gunmen stormed into WorldCall’s offices, disarmed security guards, ordered employees to leave and then set fire to the place. The blaze gutted the premises but caused no injuries. It also interrupted transmission of Geo News in several parts of the city.

From 14^th August 2014 to date dozens of journalists including females journalist have been  attacked and injured by the political workers or activists of Imran Khan and Dr. Tahirul Qadri, who have been agitating against the government outside the Parliament house, the Prime Minister’s house and the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

On 15^th August 2014 at least four crew members from Aaj News, including digital satellite news gathering engineer Iqbal, cameramen Usmaan, Iqbal, and Samaarat, were beaten up by workers from the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party while covering a speech by the PTI leader Imran Khan during a sit-in in Islamabad. The four have been treated in hospital for minor injuries.

On 17^th August 2014, as many as eight reporters, cameramen and drivers have been assaulted by the workers in two days alone. Azaz Syed, a star reporter of Geo TV, was abused; his mike was snatched and when he was about to go on air from the rally venue in order to report on the situation on ground. Meanwhile, a mob had encircled him and forced him out of the venue. All this for working for GeoTV. Arshad Waheed, a senior reporter of the network, also came under attack the same day.

On the same day, another Geo TV journalist, Saif-ur-Rehman, came under attack by Imran Khan’s party (PTI) activists who identified him by the mike carrying the logo of the network. He had to flee the scene to save his life. Shabbir Ahmed, a cameraman of Geo TV, had his camera broken by the PTI’s miscreants.  Another cameraman, Khurram Shehzad, was beaten.

On 30^th August 2014, when protesters were marching towards the Parliament house to attack there had been a clash between marchers and the police and during this clash, police have deliberately attacked and severely beaten several journalists.

# # #

About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

BURMA/MYANMAR: Journalists get ten years jail for writing on army

Mon, Jul 14, 2014 at 6:48 AM
AHRC on conviction of journalists
Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you that four journalists who wrote an investigative article about an army facility in Burma have been sentenced to ten years in jail, along with their editor. The conviction is clearly intended to intimidate the print media in Burma, or Myanmar, at a time that the country is supposedly democratizing. 

CASE NARRATIVE: 

As we wrote in the original urgent appeal (AHRC-UAC-066-2014) the Unity Journal on 25 January 2014 published an article alleging that a military facility in Magway Region was being used for the making of chemical weapons. The officer responsible for the factory then brought a criminal case against the journal director and reporters for allegedly breaching state secrets, taking photographs of the facility without permission, and publishing the article without first obtaining approval. 

Despite the many obvious flaws in the case brought against the men, set out in that appeal, on July 10 a judge sentenced all five of them to ten years in jail. Observers to the trial have pointed out that throughout the court favoured the prosecution side, hearing 29 of its witnesses against only six for the defence, and that in its characteristics the court process was not significantly different from the period of direct military dictatorship. 

Further details of the case are in the sample letter below.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Despite the changed political conditions in Myanmar, still many journalists and writers are facing legal actions for doing nothing other than exercising their right to free expression. For instance, Ma Khine, a journalist with Eleven Media, was sentenced to jail over a story of alleged judicial corruption by accusing her of interfering with the duties of public service personnel. She served her full prison term. Journalist with the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) Ko Zaw Phay and parents of school children who tried to get information on choosing scholarship awards to go to Japan from the Magway Regional Education Office also were sentenced to one year’s imprisonment. And currently another four journalists from the Mondi news journal are facing charges over their reporting. Therefore, the Unity case is part of a larger project to intimidate and delimit the print media, which at present is the only independent media in Burma, since the broadcast media remains under direct control of the government in the case of television, or in the case of radio is either under directly control or closely monitored. 

REQUESTED ACTION:
Please write a letter condemning the men’s conviction and to call for their urgent release through the reversal of convictions. Please note that for the purposes of the letter Burma is referred to by its official name, Myanmar. 

Please be informed that the AHRC is writing separate letters to the UN Special Rapporteurs on Myanmar and on the independence of judges and lawyers, and to the regional human rights office for Southeast Asia calling for interventions into this case.

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear …………….,

MYANMAR: Executive Director and Journalists of the Unity Journal given ten years jail for alleged leaking of state secrets

Names of persons being prosecuted: 
1. U Tint San aged 52 (Son of U Thein Tun), Executive Director of Unity Journal
2. Thae Yazar Oo aged 28 (Son of U Thein Maung Gyi), Senior Journalist
3. Paing Thet Kyaw (a.k.a.) Aung Thu Ya aged 25 (Son of U Aung Ko Lwin), Senior Journalist 
4. Si Thu Soe aged 22 (Son of U Win Hlaing), Senior Journalist
5. Lu Maw Naing (a.k.a.) Lin Kyaw Oo (a.k.a.) Lu Maw aged 28 (Son of U Maung Maung Kyi), Journalist for rural areas

Names of persons involved in prosecution:
1. Lt-Colonel Kyaw Kyaw Oo, Serial No. Kyi/28299, No. 24 Defence Material Factory, Myar Pine Village Tract, Pauk Township, Magway Region

Criminal Case: No. 4/2014, Pakkoku District Court, Judge U Maung Maung Htay presiding, all five accused sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with labour on 10 July 2014, accused 1-4 under section 3(1)(a) the Burma Official Secrets Act 1923, and accused 5 under sections 3(2)(a)/9. 

I condemn the sentencing of four journalists and a news editor to ten years in prison each under an antiquated law on state secrets and urge that the sentences be overturned and that they be released. 

According to the information that I have received, after the Unity Journal on 25 January 2014 published an article alleging that a military facility in Pauk Township of Magway Region was being used for the making of chemical weapons, the officer responsible for the factory, Lt-Col. Kyaw Kyaw Oo brought a criminal case against the journal director and reporters for allegedly breaching state secrets, taking photographs of the facility without permission, and publishing the article without first obtaining approval. 

On July 10 a district judge sentenced all five men to ten years in prison, one for allegedly attempting to obtain and retain official documents concerning the site, and the others on the charge under the Burma Official Secrets Act that, “If any person for any purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State approaches, inspects, passes over or is in the vicinity of, or enters, any prohibited place… he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend, where the offence is committed in relation to any work of defense, arsenal, naval, military or air force establishment or station, mine, minefield, factory, dockyard, camp, ship or aircraft or otherwise in relation to the naval, military or air force affairs of or in relation to any secret official code, to fourteen years…”

The many flaws in the case have already been brought to your attention. They include that the correct procedure was not followed in bringing the case; that the factory in question does not fall under the terms of the law used to convict the men; and, that three accused were allegedly forced to confess. It has also been pointed out that the men were acting in the national interest, not contrary to it, by reporting on an issue of national concern. 

In addition to the above, the case is clearly intended to threaten the media in Myanmar, and have a chilling effect on public debate. Presently the broadcast media remains under direct state control or is tightly monitored. Only the print media is able to communicate relatively freely on matters of national concern such as those that the journalists were working on in this instance. By convicting the five men, the court, acting on behalf of the military, is sending a signal that certain topics – including those that question the predominance of the army in all spheres of political and economic life, will not be tolerated. Indeed, the case is only one of a number currently going on against journalists in Myanmar. 

Therefore, I call for the reversal of these convictions and release of the five men at the earliest opportunity. I take the opportunity to note that it is not sufficient that the men be released through a presidential pardon, as have other persons in recent times, since the pardon keeps the conviction of the accused intact. These men have committed no crime. Not only do they not deserve to be in prison, but also they do not deserve to have a criminal record. Therefore, the sentences should not merely be pardoned but overturned completely. 

Lastly, it seems profoundly obvious yet necessary to add that the Burma Official Secrets Act 1923 is not up to date anymore and that it ought to be revoked or significantly amended to be made consistent with Myanmar’s new era of political and social change, and not to enable people who would prefer that the country remain stuck in the past to use it as a weapon against persons legitimately exercising the freedom of expression. 

Yours sincerely,

----------------

PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Lt-Gen. Ko Ko
Minister for Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
Office No. 10
Naypyitaw
MYANMAR
Tel: +95 67 412 079/ 549 393/ 549 663
Fax: +95 67 412 439

2. U Thein Sein
President of Myanmar
President Office
Office No.18
Naypyitaw
MYANMAR

3. U Tun Tun Oo
Chief Justice
Office of the Supreme Court
Office No. 24
Naypyitaw
MYANMAR
Tel: + 95 67 404 080/ 071/ 078/ 067 or + 95 1 372 145
Fax: + 95 67 404 059

4. Thura U Aung Ko
Chairman
Pyithu Hluttaw Judicial and Legislative Committee
Pythu Hluttaw Office
Naypyitaw
MYANMAR

5. U Aung Nyein
Chairman
Pyithu Hluttaw Judicial and Legislative Committee
Committee for Public Complaints and Appeals
Office of the Amyotha Hluttaw
Naypyitaw
MYANMAR

6. U Win Mra
Chairman
Myanmar National Human Rights Commission
27 Pyay Road
Hlaing Township
Yangon
MYANMAR
Tel: +95-1-659 668
Fax: +95-1-659 668

7. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
Chairwoman
Pyithu Hluttaw Rule of Law and Tranquility Committee
Office of the Pyithu Hluttaw
Naypyitaw
MYANMAR

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)

Attacks on Newspaper offices in Baghdad

IFJ Demands Government Action

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has today demanded that the Iraqi government takes urgent action following attacks by a suspected Shiite militia on the offices of newspapers in Baghdad on Monday morning, 1st April 2013. The previous day newspapers had published a story on a Shiite cleric.

"We condemn this use of violence against the offices of journalists in Baghdad which shows the risks our colleagues in Iraq continue to face in their daily work," said IFJ President Jim Boumelha. "We call on the government in Iraq to take swift action to bring those people who are behind the attacks to justice". 

According to some media reports, gunmen attacked the offices of four independent newspapers, smashing equipment and windows, attacking the staff and reportedly throwing one journalist off a roof.   

The Iraqi Journalists' Syndicate (IJS) has also condemned the attacks and urged the Iraqi authorities to find and punish those who ordered the violent attacks. 

The IFJ is marking the 10th anniversary of the war in Iraq next week with a series of events across the globe. "The latest incidents in Baghdad show that the violence against media shows no signs of abating," added Beth Costa, IFJ General Secretary.   

"Iraq continues to be ranked among the most dangerous countries in the world to be a journalist. Further action is required to protect the safety of journalists there."  

IFJ Demands Government Action Following Attacks on Newspaper offices in Baghdad

For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 07
The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 134 countries

A female radio journalist gunned down

IFJ Condemns Killing of Female Journalist in Somalia

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the killing of Rahmo Abdulkadir, a female radio journalist who was gunned down in the Somali capital, Mogadishu on Sunday 24 March 2013.

According to the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), an IFJ affiliate, Rahmo Abdulkadir who worked for Radio Abudwaq was shot dead near her house by three young men armed with pistols. The shooting took place in the district of Towfiq in north Mogadishu.

"We urge the authorities to thoroughly investigate this murder and bring the killers to justice," said Gabriel Baglo, IFJ Africa director. «We are seriously concerned by the escalation of deadly violence targeting journalists killed in Somalia." 

NUSOJ said that the motive behind the killing is unknown, adding that Rahmo Abdulkadir, who had recently arrived in Mogadishu for private reasons was working as journalist, producer and technician. 

"We need the law enforcement agencies and the government at all levels to put a stop to the incessant and senseless killing of media practitioners," said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

Rahmo Abdulkadir is the second Somali journalist murdered in as many weeks, following the killing of Abdihared Osman Adan on 18 January, also in Mogadishu. She is also the third journalist killed in Somalia since the start of the year and the second female journalist murdered in the country in a decade.IFJ Condemns Killing of Female Journalist in Somalia

For more information please contact: +221 33 867 95 86/87

The IFJ represents more than 600.000 Journalists in 134 countries in the World

IFJ Condemns Kidnapping of TV Journalist in Nigeria

Her baby and maid were released later

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has today condemned the kidnapping of OLubunmi Oke, a television journalist in Nigeria. According to the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), an IFJ affiliate, the reporter and presenter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), her baby and maid were taken Thursday March 21 by four men who blocked her car as she was leaving her office in Akure, the capital of Ondo state (South West). Her baby and maid were released later while the car was found in another town. The reason of the kidnapping is unknown.

“We are deeply concerned by the kidnapping of our colleague. We call on security forces to do their best to ensure her safe return. We stand in solidarity with her family and colleagues,” said Gabriel Baglo, IFJ Africa director.

The IFJ raises concern about the personal security of journalists in this context of violence in some parts of the country.  On 26 April 2012, two suicide car bombs targeted offices of Nigerian newspaper This Day in Abuja and a Media house in Kaduna.  Arrests of journalists are also frequent. On 24 December 2012, journalists Musa Muhammad Awwal and Aliyu Saleh from weekly Al-Mizan, a Hausa-language newspaper, were arrested and detained by the security forces without clear charges. They have since been released. The journalist Ikechukwu Udendu, editor of Anambra News , a monthly newspaper, was shot dead on Saturday 12 January 2013 by unknown persons.

“We call on journalists to have personal safety protocol and ask authorities to bring to court all perpetrators of attacks against journalists,” Baglo added.

For more information please contact: +221 33 867 95 86/87

The IFJ represents more than 600.000 Journalists in 134 countries in the World

IFJ Condemns Kidnapping of TV Journalist in Nigeria

Two senior journalists were killed in 48 hours

PAKISTAN:The killings of journalists continue unabated
 February 28, 2013                                                                            Two senior journalists were killed during the short span of 48 hours. As is usual, enquiry committees have been formed by the authorities to investigate the killings and the motives behind the incidents. However, as committees have been formed in the past for the same reason which have not shown any results there is not much hope that the latest committees will show any progress.

 A report by AHRC

On February 27, Mr. Malak Mumtaz Khan, a renowned journalist of the tribal areas and president of the Miranshah Press Club, was shot dead in North Waziristan. The area of Miranshah is known as a war zone which is under the control of the Taliban and from time to time the military conduct operations against the terrorists. Malak was going home from Miranshah bazaar in his car when men in another vehicle opened fire at him near his Miranshah Kalley village at about 4pm. He suffered bullet wounds to his head and chest and died on the spot. Malak was associated with several print and electronic media organisations, including The News, Jang, Geo TV and AVT Khyber.

The senior journalist, Mr. Khushnood Ali Shaikh, the chief reporter of the state-controlled Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) wire agency was killed in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province. He was killed in a hit-and-run accident by a car near his house on February 25. It is said that he was asked to pay an amount of Rs. 50,000 in extortion, ostensibly from a political group, for purchasing a new house. He was receiving threatening calls of the abduction and killing of his child if he did not pay the money demanded. He informed his journalist organization, his news agency, the APP, and the police of the threats. But after not getting any relief he shifted to Islamabad, the capital. When he thought the situation had been settled he returned to Karachi but again received threatening calls and it is believed that this resulted in his killing. The Police has appointed a highly designated officer to conduct the enquiry.

During the first two months of this year five journalists have been killed including three journalists in two bomb blasts in Quetta city, the capital of Balochistan province, when the Hazara Shia community was targeted by a sectarian organization.  

Pakistan is among the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists with a total of 87 deaths since the year 2000.  During the year 2011 16 journalists were killed and in 2012 nine journalists died while performing their official duty which ranked Pakistan as the third most dangerous country in the world for journalists. The tribal areas, Khaber Pakhton and Baluchistan provinces are the most dangerous areas for journalists.

Besides the number of journalists killed more than 100 journalists were injured while performing their duties. The government at all tiers claim that they are providing treatment to the injured journalists and taking care of the welfare of their family members. However the government and the media houses have failed to provide protection to the working journalists, particularly in the war zone areas.  The media houses are equally responsible for not taking steps to provide protection to the journalists rather than taking them for granted. At times it looks as if media houses are happy when a journalist is killed as the names of the media houses are quoted at every level.

No one has ever been arrested or even named in these killings with the exception of the case of one US based journalist, Daniel Pearl whose murder was investigated with the assistance of the American authorities. As already stated there have been many judicial commissions on the subject of the killings but they have all failed to identify the killers. In the very famous inquiry by a judge from the Supreme Court into the mysterious killing of Saleem Shahzad of Asia News after one year of deliberations could not identify the killers. This is despite the fact that Saleem himself had complained that he was facing death threats from the intelligence agencies of armed forces. http://www.humanrights.asia/news/forwarded-news/AHRC-FST-006-2012?searchterm=Saleem+Shahzad

The reason for the failure of the judiciary must be the insecurity of the judges which do not wish to associate themselves with any investigation into matters involving the military authorities or the terrorists. As a result they have failed to develop a system of protection under the law. The judiciary is well aware that there is no proper witness protection and terrorists enjoy this lacuna and the incapacity of the judiciary which gives them a good opportunity to pressure the legal proceedings. The case of murder of a journalist, Wali Khan Baber of Geo TV channel, is the best example to be quoted here as all the witnesses were killed. Despite this the judiciary remained silent on the matter.  http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AHRC-STM-228-2012?searchterm=wali+khan+

Many journalists leave the country when they find no protection from their own organizations and the government. In 2011 four journalists left the country and in 2012 a further eight journalists left. These journalists, when they received shelter abroad have been hired by international media houses because of their investigative journalism.

The absence of any government policy to protect media workers continues to hamper the ability of journalists to work freely in Pakistan. After every incident of killing the government comes out with tall assurances to the journalist community. The same may be said about the media houses who always try to shift the responsibility onto the authorities but have never made any effort to develop a mechanism through their powerful organizations which always works for their benefit but not of the welfare or protection of journalists supposedly under their care. 

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) urges the government of Pakistan to ensure protection for the journalist's community. This must necessarily include their families and loved ones. It is the responsibility of the government to rein in the military and the intelligence agencies to ensure that they do not carry out extrajudicial killings of journalists who expose their failings. Their time would be better spent controlling the terrorists that are a threat to the entire country. 

Freedom of expression is now so limited in Pakistan due to the various laws, including the blasphemy laws and the Official Secret Act of 1923 which generated intolerance in the society at every level. The only group that benefits from this Act is the terrorists and the state intelligence agencies. Therefore the government must follow Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which has already been ratified by Pakistan. This Article provides space for the freedom of expression and a society based on tolerance.The Eagle Eye News

AHRC report on killing of journalists

Arrested for reporting/

Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 10:22 AM

Join me in telling Home Minister Ashok to release innocent Naveen Soorinje. Sign my Petition Rector - Naveen Soorinje, a journalist, was arrested for exposing an attack on innocent girls and boys in Karnataka last year. Journalist exposes attack  31 activists of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike attacked a group of youngsters celebrating a birthday party at a homestay in Mangalore on 28 July' 12. Naveen immediately reported this attack. The video footage helped the police identify and nab the culprits. The survivor’s parents observed that if it wasn’t for the journalists, their girls would have been raped as well. Wrongly arrested for doing his duty Shockingly, along with the attackers, Naveen was arrested by the Mangalore Police. He was slapped with charges ranging from “rioting with deadly weapons”, criminal conspiracy, and using criminal force on a woman with the intention of outraging her modesty. As a journalist, I believe that Naveen is innocent and was just doing his duty. That’s why I started a petition on Change.org telling Karnataka Home Minister R. Ashok to drop all charges against Naveen Soorinje and release him from prison. Release Naveen Soorinje On Tuesday, I delivered thousands of signatures to Suresh Kumar, State Minister of Law who said that he “believes in freedom of press” and will do what he can to get Naveen justice. Naveen's arrest is an attack on freedom of press. If enough of us call on the Home Minister of State, R Ashok, he will have to respond or risk appearing heartless. https://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/release-naveen-soorinje-and-drop-all-charges-against-him-naveensoorinje Thanks in advance for taking action, In anticipation, Sudipto Mondal via Change.org PS: Please forward this to your friends and family and ask them to sign my petition, telling Home Minister of Karnataka, R Ashok to release Naveen and drop all charges against him. https://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/release-naveen-soorinje-and-drop-all-charges-against-him-naveensoorinje