In Pakistan, violence against journalists comes with impunity

Delawar Jan

PESHAWAR: Every year, the count of journalists murdered in Pakistan in line with their duty increases, but the impunity the perpetrators enjoy remains unbroken.

Media practitioners, politicians and members of the civil society say this impunity has created the environment of fear for journalists. Of 90 murders of journalists in Pakistan in the last one decade, representatives of journalists’ bodies said, only one case was investigated and the perpetrator tried and punished. That journalist, too, was not a Pakistani. He was American journalist, Daniel Pearl.

So far, this year, seven journalists have been killed in Pakistan. None of the perpetrators is arrested in any of the cases, let alone punishing them.

Saturday, November 23, was marked as the International Day to End Impunity Against Journalists. Journalists, lawmakers and members of the civil society showed their dismay over the continued impunity against journalists in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata.

A seminar jointly organised by the Khyber Union of Journalists, Peshawar Press Club and Freedom Network (FN), a media watchdog organisation, demanded of the government to establish an office of a special prosecutor at federal, provincial and regional levels.

Iqbal Khattak, executive director FN, said special prosecutors for crimes against journalists had reduced violence against media persons in Mexico and Columbia, countries where drug cartels targetted reporters. “The establishment of the office of special prosecutors can send a strong message that there will be no impunity if violence against journalists is carried out,” he said.

Continued impunity against journalists, he added, had created an environment of fear for journalists and they could not freely exercise journalism. “In this environment, investigative journalism is not possible. Journalists cannot ask hard questions,” he said. “What we see is a rise in self-censorship,” he remarked.

Photos of slain journalists whose cases have gone unprosecuted looked out at the participants from a banner as they discussed violence against media people. The case of Muhammad Zeb Mansoor, a journalist in Dargai, who was detained by a security agency in mid-October, is a reminder of the unquestioned impunity against journalists. He has not been produced before any court of law.

Nisar Mehmood, president KhUJ, said perpetrators of journalists’ murders had gone unpunished though in several cases they were known and even nominated by the victims’ families. He said the investigation was faulty and also some state institutions were involved in many killings and kidnappings. “Political parties can play role by moving resolutions in provincial assemblies and the National Assembly for establishing the office of special prosecutor,” he said.

Sultan Muhammad Khan, an MPA of the Qaumi Watan Party, said media was eyes and ears of the society but the eyes and ears were now being shut. “What I know is that state and non-state actors are responsible for attacks against journalists,” he added.

He said it was alarming that murders of journalists were increasing. “Seven killings of journalists this year is alarming. We are regressing backwards,” he said. The young lawmaker described it as undemocratic and anti-freedom behaviour to kidnap, threaten and intimidate media persons. He said national interest needed to be defined clearly and journalists briefed on it so that they could protect it. He suggested that special law dealing with journalists’ killings might be enacted and the office of special prosecutor be made part of it.

Sardar Babak, parliamentary leader of Awami National Party in the provincial assembly, said violence against journalists was worrisome. “By killing and intimidating journalists, our voice and thoughts are being stifled,” he said.

Jalil Jan of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam assured journalists of support. He complained television channels were showing dummies of their leaders dancing, which was their insult.

QWP’s Nisar Khan said they could move the Peshawar High Court to claim the right to protection for journalists.

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