On the eve of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, he emphasized that while legislative measures exist, they remain largely symbolic without active enforcement mechanisms
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: In 2024, Pakistan has witnessed a deeply troubling escalation in violence and threats against journalists, with Freedom Network’s Impunity Report documenting an unsettling pattern of targeted killings and rights violations. According to the report, the media landscape remains perilous, with six journalists and a YouTuber losing their lives, and a recorded 57 incidents of harassment, threats, and violent attacks against media practitioners.
Despite the existence of protective laws, both federal and in Sindh, there has been negligible enforcement, leaving journalists vulnerable and perpetrators unaccountable. Iqbal Khattak, Executive Director of Freedom Network, called attention to the ineffective implementation of the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners Bill 2021 and the federal Protection of Journalist and Media Professional Act 2021. On the eve of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, he emphasized that while legislative measures exist, they remain largely symbolic without active enforcement mechanisms.
Analyzing data from November 2023 to August 2024, the report records 11 assassination attempts, with five resulting in fatalities. Violations are particularly concentrated in Sindh, accounting for 37 percent of cases, followed by Punjab with 23 percent, Islamabad with 21 percent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 12 percent, and Balochistan at 3.5 percent. Television journalists have borne the brunt, constituting 53 percent of the reported violations, while print journalists account for 35 percent, digital media practitioners for 10 percent, and radio journalists for 2 percent. Alarmingly, female journalists report 9 percent of the cases, shedding light on the added dimension of gender-based risks within the profession.
One of the report’s notable contributions is the “Media Impunity Index,” the first of its kind for Pakistan, which assesses each region’s efforts to implement protective measures. Sindh ranks highest with nine out of 10 points, acknowledging its legislative steps, though these have yet to translate into practical safety measures. The federal government scored an eight, while Punjab lags with a single point, indicating a severe deficit in actions to protect journalists. The lack of active safety commissions in Sindh and at the federal level highlights a gap between policy and on-the-ground impact.
Judicial institutions, including the high and supreme courts, have at times intervened to protect journalists ensnared in cases seen as controversial or politically motivated, frequently involving state actors. These interventions have provided limited reprieve, but the overwhelming impunity reinforces a climate where journalists are left exposed to recurring threats and harassment.
