Atatcks on media – Pakistan Freedom of Expression Monitor

Probe commission on journalists’ killing

PPF Editor — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 12:55:28 +0000

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has announced that a judicial commission will be set up to investigate the killing of journalists in the province over the past four years.

He also announced payment of compensation to the families of the slain journalists. More than 30 journalists have been killed in Quetta, Khuzdar, Kalat, Hub, Turbat, Gwadar, Pasni and Panjgur since 2009.

The chief minister made the announcement in the Balochistan Assembly when journalists returned to the press gallery after staging a walkout in protest against a firing incident in Karachi in which three employees of a TV channel were killed.

Balochistan Union of Journalists chief Irfan Saeed urged the assembly to condemn the attack and put pressure on the Sindh government for early arrest of killers.

The chief minister condemned the incident and said that members of the commission would be appointed after consulting the assembly members.

DAWN

Taliban threaten attacks on media outlets

PPF Editor — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 11:31:33 +0000

KARACHI: The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility on Saturday for a deadly attack on a private television channel in Karachi and threatened further violence against media outlets.

A spokesman said in a statement that militants had attacked a TV channel van on Friday night, killing three employees, because the station had acted as a “propagandist”.

“We claim the responsibility… The reason of the attack is that in the war of ideologies all media channels… are acting as propagandist and as rival party,” Ehsanullah Ehsan said.

“We will attack all the media houses that are involved in carrying out propaganda against us” he said.
A technician, driver and security guard were killed when gunmen attacked the van late on Friday.

The Pakistani Taliban had attacked the same TV channel in December. “We had not incurred any loss of life so we attacked them again,” Ehsan told AFP in a phone call from an undisclosed location.

Media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said last month that Pakistan was among the world’s five deadliest countries for the media in its annual round-up of press freedom violations.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif constituted a two-member committee to contact media houses and assess security threats to them.

The committee consists of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid.

Daily Times

PFUJ demands speedy justice in Wali Babar case

PPF Editor — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 09:23:14 +0000

SUKKUR: Journalists from Sukkur and Larkana division protested in front of the Central Prison Shikarpur on Saturday where the hearing in the Wali Khan Babar murder case was in progress by an ATC judge.

Hundreds of journalists from Sukkur and Larkana rallied under the banner of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists in front of the Central Prison Shikarpur, where the ATC judge was hearing the Wali Khan Babar murder case.

The ATC judge adjourned the case till January 25 owing to the non-appearance of the counsel of the under-trail prisoner.

Police and Rangers had cordoned off the Central Prison Shikarpur.

On the occasion, executive member of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist Lala Asad Pathan said that journalists were being assassinated by terrorists but the government did not take any action.

He pointed out that 112 journalists had sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. He said that speedy justice and speedy trail were needed in the Wali Babar case.

Pathan said journalists were determined to spread their protests and rallies across the country.

Deputy Commissioner Shikarpur Aziz Ahmed met journalists and assured them of conveying their message to the ATC judge.

Later, journalists blocked the Indus Highway, Shikarpur, against the attack on a private television channel which claimed three lives. They demanded arrest of the killers.

The News