Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), in a letter to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey has expressed concern over the arrest of Austrian journalist Max Zirngast by Turkish authorities.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali has condemned the arrest and has called on Turkish authorities to immediately release Zirngast.

According to IPS Communication Foundation – Bianet, police detained Zirngast during the early hours of September 11, from the capital city of Ankara.

Zirngast works for Germany-based left-wing re:volt magazine in Austria. The magazine on its Twitter posted that, “Turkey is trying to silence all oppositional voices. They will not be able to do it!”

The magazine further stated that Zirngast has probably been arrested political reporting, and that the police have also arrested two Turkish citizens along with Zirngast.

A New York-based magazine Jacobin for which Zirngast also works, stated, “One of our contributors, Max Zirngast, has been taken into custody by Turkish police. This is an appalling abridgment of democratic rights. #FreeMaxZirngast”

Pakistan’s print media highlighted important issues including the revival of Censorship Committee on Defence Planning (CCDP) after 18 years; the recent flexing of muscles by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to regulate private TV channels and the opening of Centre for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ) at Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi.

PPF monitored 18 daily newspapers monitored from February 22-28, including Dawn, The News, The Nation, Express Tribune, Business Recorder, Pakistan Today and Regional Times, Jang, Dunya, Roznama Express, Nawa-e-Waqt, Pakistan, Intikhab, Quami Akhbar, Amn, Kawish, Ibrat and Awami Awaaz.

Of the 70 news published during the week in the newspapers monitored, 11 were on media ethics, 20 on media rights, 10 on media safety, 3 on media bodies, 5 were obituaries and 3 were on welfare of journalists. Nineteen stories covered a number of miscellaneous issues.

Development of professional capacity

All major newspapers including Dawn and Express Tribune prominently covered inauguration of Centre for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ) at Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi established in collaboration with International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ), Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and United States Department of State.

At present 280 journalists attending programs and participating in training in television production, editing, documentary making, upcoming course on news writing, reporting, editing for TV, print media and data journalism. IBA plans to introduce Master’s journalism degree programme.

Kamal Siddiqui, Editor of Express Tribune is the chair of the CEJ Board of Advisors.

Electronic Media

Censorship Committee on Defence Planning (CCDP)

The News (Feb. 24) carried exclusive story by Ansar Abbasi highlighting the government’s revival of the Censorship Committee on Defence Planning (CCDP) after 18 years to protect “national interest threatened particularly by unregulated and unchecked electronic media.”
CCDP which met on December 16, 2015 under chairmanship of Secretary Information, decided to regulate the selling of airtime by local TV and radio channels to foreign media because the committee felt “many TV channels and radio stations are airing foreign programmes and content which could be detrimental to national interest.”

CCPD decided that there should be uniformity at federal and provincial levels to evolve to mechanisms to review censorship regulations and procedures that have a bearing on national interest or defence planning.

It also decided to have an effective monitoring mechanism of private TV, radio channels during emergencies and war situation for which a media cell was set up comprising civil, military and security agencies representatives. The story did not clarify if the committee considered current situation in the country to warrant such monitoring mechanism.

CCDP also reviewed proposed changes suggested by Films Censors after the 18th Constitutional amendment.

PEMRA Flexes Its Muscles

The Nation (Feb. 25) carried story of PEMRA Council of Complaints (COC) imposing fine of Rs. 100,000 on ARY TV for “incitement for dislodgment of democratic system” in their programme “Sawal Ye Hai” hosted by Dr. Danish that included an appeal to Army chief to come and take over the country and topple the democratic setup.

PEMRA COC warned Express TV News for airing programs in violation of Code of Conduct 2015 and levelling allegations without credible information against Taimur Rehman, Assistant Professor, Political Science, Lahore University of Medical Sciences (LUMS). COC also directed ARY News to air apology and rebuttable for airing incorrect information against functionaries in Aviation Division of the Federal Government.

The COC advised PEMRA to issues advice to all TV channels to refrain from the use of derogatory words against persons, institutions, maligning government functionaries, airing allegation without credible information. It recommended issuing advice to TV channels to strictly refrain from calling a citizen enemy of Pakistan, anti-Islam, traitor, using racial and religious discriminatory words.

PEMRA Chairman Absar Alam convened consultative conference with stake holders on March 16 with participation of Information Minister, senior officials, civil society members to enhance confidence with media industry reported by Jang (Feb. 28).

The News (Feb. 24) carried a report on the ceremony to destroy 3,000 illegal Indian Direct to Home (DTH) decoders that PEMRA had recently confiscated. PEMRA said illegal Indian DTH were distributing illegal and unlicensed channels in Pakistan in violation of PEMRA rules.

The Business Recorder, Express Tribune and The Nation (Feb. 24) covered the resolution passed unanimously by Punjab Provincial Assembly seeking to ban television channels from broadcasting shows based on reenactment of crime scenes and court stories.

Dunya, Pakistan and Amn (Feb. 26) reported a request submitted by advocate Ishtiaq Chaudri in Lahore High Court to stop TV channels presenting airing crimes in dramatic way which violated Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority PEMRA rules, enabling criminals adopt new methods and attract children to crime.

BOL TV

According to news stories by Urdu dailies Amn (Feb. 24) and Quami Akhbar (Feb. 23) BOL TV Action Committee members’ demonstrated at Karachi Press Club with demand to restore bank accounts so that employees’ wages are paid besides restore its license.

Amn (Feb. 27) covered story on Sindh Assembly passing a resolution in favour of BOL TV. Sindh Minister Nisar Khoro and MQM member Faisal Sabzwari were among movers of resolution in house urged the federal ministry of interior to immediately grant security clearance to BOL media group. The resolution says BOL news and BOL entertainment should be allowed to start transmission and decision to suspend their license be revoked.

The house demanded investigation and action against those who resorted to this illegal action against BOL group, causing it billions of rupees loss.

Cable Operators

Pakistan Cable Operators Association (PCOA) announced to suspend TV broadcasts in Punjab province if tax not revoked, reported by The News. PCOA said it would suspend three hours transmission daily of all private TV channels from 25 February 2016 for a week in protest against tax imposed by Punjab Revenue Authority PRA.

PCOA head Captain (rtd.) Jabbar said transmission of all private TV channels other than state-owned Pakistan Television Corporation PTV will be suspended daily from 7pm to 10pm for a week. If demands were not considered, time span will be increased from three to six hours. He warned if any cable operator was arrested protest would be extended all over the country. Chiniot Cable Operator Association also announced suspending transmission of all channels in the district from 25 February except PTV.

Jang (Feb. 27) reported Managing Director of Pakistan Television Corporation PTV Mohammad Malik relinquished charge on completing two years contract, not further extended and new MD to be appointed soon. On 27 February The News reported Attaul Haq Qasmi assumed charge of additional MD PTV.

Media Freedom And Safety

Express Tribune (Feb. 24) covered story of Rana Arshad, Punjab parliamentary secretary for information announcing formation of a committee to probe alleged manhandling of a journalist by a deputy medical superintendent at a public hospital. Rana Arshad, Mian Aslam Iqbal and members of press gallery were included in the committee.

Pakistan (Feb. 27) reported, journalists boycotted Sindh Assembly’s coverage over threat by Tariq Masood Arain to Shah Waliullah reporter of local TV channel. Pakistan (Feb. 28) covered protest of journalist in Tank press club against Kalachi police head constable Ramzan’s misbehaviour with its President Awardin Masud while he was going to Dera Ismail Khan.

Express Tribune and Regional Times (Feb. 25) reported the arrest of Raees Ahmed, owner of Pasban publishers, Hyderabad, along with his employees from the press for publishing an anti-Pakistan advertisement in a Sindhi weekly newspaper. The advertisement contained content against Pakistan, armed forces, intelligence agencies and China Pakistan Economic Corridor project. During initial investigation, police have come to assessment that Ahmed did not read the content. “The man is illiterate,” said Station House Officer Afzal Qureshi. “He received ad from a person whom he couldn’t identify. He didn’t read it as it was written in Sindhi language.”

Right to Information (RTI)

Express Tribune (Feb. 23) published story based on directives of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Right to Information (RTI) Commission to government departments to share details of their retired employees in a monthly report. Chairman KP RTI Professor Kalimullah told Express Tribune he had to take this step after getting application of 80-year-old Muhammad Shareef who has yet to get his pension as it was stuck in district accounts office of Dera Ismail Khan. Kalimullah said under KP RTI Act 2013, Commission had power to ask all government departments to share information of those entitled to pension.

According to news story of Dawn (Feb. 24) a meeting chaired by Special Assistant to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister on Information approved proposed amendments in KP RTI Act 2013 to make it more comprehensive and accessible to people in the province. It proposes to include registered organizations and the High Court into the ambit of RTI law for provision of any sort of requested information, criminalizes provision of false information, those responsible to be fined and sentenced to two years in prison.

In Punjab implementation of Punjab Transparency & Right to Information Act 2013 faces hurdles of lack of finances and awareness among people reported by Dawn (Feb. 24). Chief Information Commissioner Mazhar Husain Minhas said there is a flood of information untapped in Punjab which should be used for research, governance and solution of problem.

Gender in journalism

Express Tribune’s photographer Aysha Saleem, was elected as member of governing body of Pakistan Association of Press Photographers. This is first time in the history of 55-years-old association that a female photographer had contested elections, won and is now member of governing body reported by Express Tribune (Feb. 24).

Pakistan Press Foundation

Two media personnel were killed, while six others were injured and many were manhandled during 2015. In addition 11 media personnel were booked in false cases and equipment of many media workers was damaged or destroyed during the year. Television channels remained the primary target of violent attacks during the year.

According to research by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), federal or provincial governments did not respond seriously to any of the fifteen incidents of violence against media personnel during the year. Not a single case relating to violence against media resulted in arrest and prosecution, despite repeated assurances by government ministers.

Two media personnel murdered

According to the details of the PPF’s “Pakistan Media Safety Report 2015”, Arshad Ali Jaffery, a technical engineer of Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) van of Geo News was killed and the driver Anis Chauhan injured on September 8, when unidentified armed men opened fire on their vehicle in Karachi. No one claimed the responsibility for this attack and no arrests for the murder have yet been made.

Zaman Mehsud reporter of daily Ummat and Sana news agency, based in Tank, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was ambushed and shot dead on November 3; ironically one day after the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists was commemorated in Pakistan and rest of the world. Taliban commander, Qari Saifullah, claimed the responsibility for his murder and said: “We killed him because he was writing against us. We have some other journalists on our hit list in the region; soon we will target them.”

Six media personnel injured

All six cases of violence leading to injury of media personnel occurred in the last two months of the year.

On November 20, hand grenades were hurled on the Faisalabad bureau office of Dunya News television channel injuring two staff members, Saifur Rehman, a business executive, and Nazar Hussain, a security guard. The attackers left a note claiming the attack were by followers of Daulat Islamia Khurasan (Islamic State Khurasan) and warned of more attacks on media.

Another attack where the responsibility was claimed by activists of Daulat Islamia Khurasan (Islamic State Khurasan) was on December 1. The attackers threw a hand grenade at Lahore offices of Din News that injured the organization’s receptionist Masood Mukhtar as well as two police constables, Mohammed Ijaz and Nasir Abbas. In this incident also, the attackers left a t note threatening the media.

Another incident of attack on a DSNG was occurred November 27 in Karachi, when unidentified armed men opened fire on the DSNG van belonging to Dawn News and injured its engineer Hassan Mateen. No one claimed responsibility for the attack.

Another attack by a homemade explosive device was on Express News office in Sargodha on December 7. In this attack, Masood Mukhtar, a security guard of the television channel, received injuries. Nobody claimed the responsibility for the attack.

Journalists detained

Illegal detention and abduction of journalists is a common occurrence in conflict areas and tribal areas of the country. Law enforcement agencies, militants and civil administration routinely indulge in abductions and illegal detentions to threaten journalists who do not tow their line. In most cases, families and colleagues of the detained journalists prefer to plead for their release rather than publicize the illegal actions, for fear of harm to those detained.

The two cases given below are examples of such detentions in 2015.

On October 10, Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel raided the house of Rahat Shinwari, a correspondent of an Urdu daily, Ausaf, in Landi Kotal, a town of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. They blindfolded and handcuffed him and took to an unknown destination. He as released the next day without giving reason for his detention.

On 31 March, the security forces detained Nasrum Minallah, a correspondent of Express Tribune, along with Haji Pazir Gul, a correspondent of Dawn and Abidullah Amin of Roznama Pakistan and his brother Shafiqullah Amin. They were detained for 10 hours at Kajori check post in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) near Pak-Afghan border as they were going for the coverage of internally displaced persons (IDPs)

Manhandling of media personnel

The PPF report also recorded a number of cases of manhandling and harassment of media workers in the year 2015.

On 20th December, Muhammad Ansar, a reporter of Aaj News television channel was manhandled by police for covering the allegedly illegal closure of sugar mills in Tando Muhammad Khan, a district in the southern part of Sindh province in Pakistan.

On August 20, security guards of Liaquat National Hospital (LNH) Karachi manhandled eleven media persons who arrived there to cover the expected visit of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Those manhandled included Danyal Sayyed, reporter of AbbTakk News; Tanveer Ahmed reporter of Dawn News; Talha, cameraman of Dawn News; Arif Khan, cameraman of Aaj News; Khawar Khan, reporter of Geo News; Rajab Ali, reporter of NEO TV; Taha Ubadi, reporter of Dunya TV; Kafeel Ahmed, reporter of AAJ TV; Muhammad Ashad, reporter of C 92; Waqas Lodhi, cameraman of Metro TV and Imran Yameen, cameraman of Dunya TV.

On May 23, the Special Security Unit (SSU) of the police beat up reporters, photographers and cameramen while they were covering the appearance of Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza outside the Sindh High Court (SHC) in Karachi. The police used wooden staffs to beat them and also damaged their equipment.

Journalists and media workers booked in false cases

On June 2, eleven journalists and media workers were booked in false cases. Three of them were charged under Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). Those charged claim the real reason for registering criminal cases against journalists and media workers was because they covered the activities of Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, who had broken away from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP),

Those who had cases registered against them included Mumtaz Memon and Niaz Memon of the daily Sindh; Yousuf Jani and Dir Murad Mari of the daily Koshish; Shankar Kumar and Meharrudin Mari of the daily Hilal e Pakistan; Shafqat Pinyaro of the daily Sindh and Express News, Aachar Azeem of the daily Tameer e Sindh; Murtaza Memon of Neo TV, and Haji Khan Lashari of daily Koshish.

Pakistan Press Foundation

The basic philosophy of Editors for Safety will be that an attack on one journalist or media house will be considered an attack on the entire media. Those in the organisation will assess such situations and jointly make decisions regarding media coverage of violence and threats of violence against any media house as if it was an attack against themselves. Beyond coverage, Editors for Safety would also assist any journalist or media house that needs help in dealing with such issues by providing resources, sharing information and expertise, or reaching out to stakeholders involved.

The formal creation of Editors for Safety has ensured close, timely coordination between many newspaper editors and television news directors on cases of attacks/threats on media professionals, and has already resulted in improving the quality of media coverage of such attacks. The decision has been taken so that media houses can speak with one voice against the prevalent culture of impunity where journalists across the country are being attacked on a regular basis, and perpetrators are rarely brought to justice.

The meeting decided to approach all newspapers editors and television news directors to join Editors for Safety. The meeting also decided to consult with All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) and invite them to nominate representatives to Editors for Safety.

Those who attended the meeting and formed Editors for Safety included Wamiq Zuberi (Business Recorder), Mujibur Rehman Shami (Daily Pakistan), Ali Kazi (KTN and Kawish), Fahd Hussain (Express News), Azhar Abbas (Geo News), Shahrukh Hassan (The Jang Group), Abdul Khaliq (Online), Anwer Sajdi (daily Intekhab), Aamer Ahmed Khan (Aaj TV), Tahir Najmi (daily Express), Jabbar Khatttak (Awami Awaz), Zahid Mazhar (Dawn News), Jahanzaib Haque (Dawn.com), Naveed Hussain (Express Tribune), Farhan Reza (ARY News), Imran Saleem Dar (AVT), Zaffar Abbas (Dawn) and Owais Aslam Ali (PPF).

Those who could not attend the meeting but have been part of the consultations on Editors for Safety, and have given their consent, include Arif Nizami (Pakistan Today and Channel 24), Rameeza Nizami (Nawa-e-Waqt/The Nation group), Kamran Khan (Duniya News), Kazi Abid (Ibrat) and Siddiq Baloch (Balochistan Express).

The meeting decided that Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) would be the secretariat of Editors for Safety.

As is invariably the norm, the assailants in both instances escaped unchallenged after committing the crime. While it is too early to ascertain the motive of this second murder of a journalist within weeks (the first one was claimed by the Taliban), it is often the case that powerful groups, angry at being shown in a poor light for their wrongdoings, retaliate with violence.

Journalists have to come to grips with all sorts of pressures, from criminal elements, terrorists, government officials and even the law-enforcement apparatus, which is why theirs is such a perilous calling. A report on safety of Pakistani media professionals presents a bleak picture of level of insecurity faced by them and calls for serious efforts by governments and media to change the present situation where those who kill, injure, abduct and threaten journalists are almost never punished.

The Report on the Safety of Media Workers, released by Pakistan Press Foundation on the International Day on Impunity, documents that since 2001, 47 media workers have been murdered, 164 injured, 88 assaulted, 21 abducted and 40 detained. In addition, 24 media professionals died while covering dangerous assignments.

There have been convictions in only two cases out of 384 cases of violence against media. It should also be noted that Pakistan ranks ninth on the Committee to Protect Journalists’ global Impunity Index, which analyses countries where journalists are murdered and their killers roam free. The government needs to end its apathy and help change this dire situation. It needs to take action to ensure media workers carry out their professional duties in a less intimidating environment. They should enjoy the level of freedom necessary to work unhindered to report on matters of public interest.

Express Tribune

A Pakistani television journalist has been shot and killed by motorcycle gunmen in a tribal region in the country’s northwest that has been hit by a wave of attacks on members of the media.

Unidentified gunmen killed Hafeez Ur Rehman of Neo TV Nov. 22 near his home in the town of Kohat in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, formerly known as North-West Frontier Province, news outlets including Iran’s Press TV said.

The motive for the killing of Rehman, 42, remains unclear. No groups or individual have claimed responsibility yet. Rehman, who covered the region for Neo TV and previously edited his own newspaper, had not reported any threats made against him, Agence France-Presse reported. He is the second journalist to be killed in Pakistan this month and the third to be killed since September.

A local reporter, Zaman Mehsud, was shot five times in the same region Nov. 3. A Taliban commander later told Reuters his group was responsible for Mehsud’s death because of his “writing against us.” The commander also told the news agency the group had other journalists on its hit list in the region.

In September, a satellite technician for Pakistan’s Geo News and a former reporter for the network were killed in separate incidents in Karachi, and a third journalist was wounded in a shooting attack in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

At least 71 Pakistani media workers and journalists have been killed while practicing their profession in Pakistan since 2001 , according to a report Nov. 1 report released by the Pakistan Press Foundation. Of the 71 killed, the deaths of 47 journalists were directly related to their work, according to the report. Only two of the cases have resulted in criminal convictions.

Global Journalist

Taliban claim responsibility for gunning down Zaman Mehsud

VIENNA, Nov 5, 2015 – The murder of yet another journalist in Pakistan this week because of his journalistic work once again raises the issue of journalists’ safety and the importance of ending the impunity both in that country and worldwide.

Senior journalist Zaman Mehsud of Tank District in Pakistan’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was gunned down on Tuesday, one day after the world marked the annual International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.

According to local media, Mehsud – who was working with the Daily Ummat and Nai Baat newspapers, and who served as president of the South Waziristan chapter of the Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ) and as district coordinator of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in Tank District – was shot five times while riding his motorbike near the Dabara refugee camp in Tank.

Critically injured, the journalist was taken to a hospital in neighbouring Dera Ismail Khan District, but was later pronounced dead. Hours later, Reuters reported, Taliban commander Qari Saif Ullah Saif told the news agency: “We killed him because he was writing against us … we have some other journalists on our hit list in the region, soon we will target them.”

Journalists and media workers in Pakistan face a strong culture of impunity, as the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), headed by Pakistani journalist and IPI Executive Board Member Owais Aslam Ali, noted in a report released to mark Impunity Day. The group called on both Pakistan’s government and the media to do more to protect journalists and to apprehend their killers.

IPI Director of Advocacy and Communications Steven M. Ellis echoed that call, commenting: “Greater action must be taken to prevent an already dire situation from worsening. Far too many of our colleagues are dying and far too many of their murderers remain free to kill again.”

A statement that PPF posted on its website on Monday describing the report appears below in full, courtesy of the PPF. The complete report is available in English for download here or via the PPF’s website.

Those who murder, injure and assault journalists are almost never punished in Pakistan

A report on safety of Pakistani media professionals presents a bleak picture of level of insecurity faced by Pakistani journalists and calls [for] serious efforts by governments and media to change the present situation where those that kill, injure, abduct and threaten journalists are almost never punished.

The Report on Safety of Media Workers released by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) on the International Day on Impunity documents that since 2001, 47 media workers have been murdered, 164 injured, 88 assaulted, 21 abducted and 40 detained. In addition 24 media professionals died while covering dangerous assignments. There have been convictions in only two cases out of 384 cases of violence against media.

In Pakistan, journalists are killed, unjustly detained, abducted, beaten and threatened by law enforcement and intelligence agencies, militants, tribal and feudal lords, as well as by religious groups and political parties that claim to promote democracy and the rule of law. Adding to the gravity of the situation is the fact that the perpetrators of violence against journalists and media workers enjoy almost absolute impunity from prosecution in Pakistan.

Because of conflicts and insurgencies the number of murders and killings [are] the highest in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA. Since 2001, 21 journalists and media workers were killed in Balochistan, 19 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, nine in FATA and 15 in Sindh, four in Punjab and three in Islamabad.

Threats and violence have forced many journalists to move from these danger zones and to leave the profession or to resort to self-censorship, particularly in conflict areas. As a consequence, news reports from conflict areas are based on press releases, not on observations by independent journalists. Thus, new reports that are published or broadcast lack credibility and do not inform the public in an objective manner.

The two convictions by courts were in Sindh for the murder of Daniel Pearl of the Wall Street Journal and Wali Babar of Geo Television. In both the cases the federal and provincial governments seriously [pursued] the cases because of pressure from the media organisations of the murdered journalists. The report thus recommends that criminal cases should not only be registered but should also be properly investigated and prosecuted against the perpetrators of violence against media. The report also calls on media itself to take the lead in ensuring safety of media practitioners and to ensure long-term follow up of cases of assault on media organisations and workers.

Apart from murders and killings, the largest number of cases of violence against media occurred in the province of Sindh. Out of a total of 164 journalists and media workers injured and assaulted since 2001, 91 were in Sindh. Surprisingly the second place in these categories with 70 assaults was Islamabad, which was largely due to the assault on large number of media practitioners by supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) during the Dharna in 2014. Forty-eight media practitioners were injured and assaulted in Punjab, 23 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 14 in Balochistan.

This reluctance to hold those who use violence against media professionals exists even in high profile cases such as that of murderous attack on Hamid Mir in 2014, and the murders of journalists Saleem Shahzad in 2011 and Hayatullah Khan in 2006. In all three cases high profile commissions were set up but the result has been nil.

Hamid Mir of Geo Television received six bullet wounds when he was attacked in Karachi in April 2014. The government set up a judicial commission in response to national and international furor over the attack. The commission was supposed to submit a report in 21 days. However, 18 months have passed and the commission has still not submitted the report. Meanwhile, Mir and other journalists continue to receive threats and face a sense of increasing insecurity. The report calls for the early completions of the commission report, which should fix responsibility and be made public.

Cases that are not high profile are covered up at the local level. One such example is that of the fatal shooting of Shan Dahar, reporter of “Abb Takk” TV channel on the night of Dec. 31, 2013 in Badh, in Larkana district. He was shot in his back and was taken to the hospital where he remained unattended until he succumbed to his injuries many hours later on Jan. 1, 2014. The local police, in an investigation that his family believes to be flawed and motivated, termed the death an accidental death as a result of shooting [into the air] on New Year’s Eve. However, the family believes he was targeted because of his stories on use of fake medicines in local hospitals. Despite repeated promises, including those by Minister of Information and Broadcasting Pervez Rashid, to have the case re-investigated, no action has been taken by the provincial or federal governments.

The report emphasizes that free media is essential to democracy in Pakistan and for promoting transparency and accountability, a prerequisite of sustained economic uplift, and that the impunity enjoyed by those who attack Pakistani media is seriously hampering independent journalism in Pakistan.

International Press Institute

Media plays a crucial role in an open society. Pakistan, however, has turned into the most dangerous county for media persons. In a ranking of the states that do not investigate and prosecute murders of journalists, Pakistan is placed in the unenviable category of the top-most ten. The report pinpoints eight sources of threat to the journalists: Militants, political networks, religious parties, ethnic groups, tribal and feudal lords and law enforcement agencies. The threats include killing, unjustly detaining, abduction and torture. We are told that since 2001, 71 journalists and media workers have lost their lives in pursuit of their duties. Of these 47 have been deliberately targeted and murdered for independent reporting while others were killed when covering dangerous assignments. In only two cases have the murderers been convicted by the courts

The report, however, fails to take note of certain dark aspects of what it calls a vibrant, independent and fairly free media. A streak of intellectual backwardness charcterises a fairly large section of the media community. This includes narrow-mindedness, religious and sectarian prejudice and chauvinism. Media being an industry, the media owners sell everything which is in demand, including religiosity. The way clerics were shown blaming sins and lack of adherence to religion as a cause of the earthquakes is one of untold examples. There are self-imposed taboos and a suppression of bad reports about multinationals and state enterprises that provide lucrative ads. There is need to take note of this dark aspect to make media really free.

Pakistan Today

Speaking at a three-day training and safety workshop for media organized by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) here Wednesday, he said media is playing a valuable role for elimination of crimes from the society. He said impressive performance of media people and free media policy in Pakistan are helping in introducing positive trends in Pakistan. He told that the Regional Police Training Center Hyderabad was the largest police training of Pakistan area-wise and steps are being taken to further improve it. He said a big garden could also be developed on the land of this police training center at Gunjo Takker Hill which would beautify the area and provide recreational facilities to area people. He sought cooperation of journalists in this regard.

He said interaction sessions of under-training cops with media professional would help them in better understating community police concept. He said that we are improving the standard of police training, so that they could perform better job and deal with any kind of situation without the support of rangers. He welcomed PPF for arranging this important training workshop at his police training center. He offered arranging lectures on safety of media for the members of Hyderabad Press Club (HPC).

PPF Media Training Coordinator Nasim Shaikh said PPF has started a series of safety and training workshops in different parts of the country, which would not only train them to cope with safety and security challenges while carrying out their day to day professional activities, but also improve their relations with police and civil defence departments. She said PPF is arranging these trainings in collaboration with Free Press Unlimited. She appreciated the efforts of RTC Hyderabad and said that such steps will result in changing attitudes of police and media people.

Hyderabad Press Club general secretary Mansoor Marri said PPF is doing a wonderful job regarding safety training of journalists as presently security is one of the major issues faced by media in Pakistan. He welcomed the offer of Brohi and appreciated RTC for facilitating safety and security training for journalists.

Mansoor Mari appreciated the training effort said that such steps will build better relations between police and journalist and help them in doing their jobs more effectively and more importantly, more securely.

The participants of workshop were first asked to share their safety and security related issues they faced during their duties.

Fahim Babar, a TV reporter, while sharing his experience said that his team was once trapped in a firing incident and there was no way out. A crime reporter, Imtiaz Ali discussed his experience of investigating the murder case of the son of a sessions judge. He shared how he was threatened by different authorities and how it affected his mental health. Amjad Islam Amjad, another participant shared a recent incident where a mob surrounded the HPC building. He said that, ‘the angry mob was declaring us the agents of the West and throwing things towards our building. ‘Our lives were on stake.’

The stories were helpful to highlight the major safety and security issues to journalists. The issues, as highlighted by Nasim Shaikh, included risk assessment, stress management, tackling the mob, protection of evidence and how to deal with trauma. Everyone at the workshop was hopeful that this three days workshop will help journalists to tackle safety and security issues during their jobs.

The police instructor, Ikram Gujjar briefed the journalists about civil disturbance. He stressed for astrong coordination between journalists and police. He said that ‘everyone should know his/her limits. Police should know how it should work and so do the journalists.’ He further briefed the participants about police work procedure. He emphasized the need for journalists to maintain a safe distance from incident place, specifically during bomb blasts and cross firing. He asked journalists, ‘you should always assure your identity prominently and try not to dissolve among mob. The step, if taken, will help police to differentiate journalists from mob.’

The chief law instructor, Ali Gohar Langah informed the journalist about Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) sections which police use to disperse mobs. ‘When five or more than five people gather at some place for the common interest violating government ban, police uses PPC’s section 146, 147 and 148 to disperse them,’ the instructor told. He further said that police cannot open fire on mob unless started by the mob and that too upon District Commissioner or Magistrate’s instructor in his/her presence.

A mock bomb blast scene was also established inside RTC where police instructors practically briefed the journalist about dos and don’ts. They were kept on safe distance and told how to ensure their safety. The instructor requested journalists to always prioritize their safety and let first police clear the area.

Pakistan Press International

“Only two out of 50 murder cases of journalists could be resolved in recent years in the country,” he said while speaking at the concluding session of a four-day workshop titled “Safety and Security Training for Journalists”, organized by PPF in collaboration with Free Press Unlimited at a local hotel.

PPF’s chief consultant Kamila Marvi said: “Women in the field of journalism have more exposure to society, as they have to work in the field where they face more sexual harassments.”

A representative of Hyderabad Press Club, Faheem Siddiqui, suggested that a committee comprising at least two female should be formed in every press club to tackle issues of sexual harassment, where every female journalist should report in case she faced any such problem.

Citizens-Police Liaison Committee’s (CPLC) Assistant Chief Shabbar Malik said: “We should never take a threat as a joke because it could be very dangerous to us. Such a threat should immediately be reported to a nearby police station and you should get information about the criminals who are threatening you by getting help from intelligence agencies or CPLC.”

Clinical psychologist belonging to Karwan-e-Hayat, Muhammed Idrees, said that sparing time from one’s busy and strenuous life to enjoy with family and friends was highly important for the refreshment of mind.

He said life is so busy these days that people usually do not get time to improve their mental health which could result in a mental disorder. “There are many ways to get relief or minimise your mental stress and these include exercise, listing your problems and find their solutions.”

Criticising the media for highlighting severe injuries cases, Idrees said that such exposures could lead to anxiety and depression in the society.

Bytes for All’s Manager (Research), Faheem Zafar, said that leaving digital equipments unsecured, specially mobile phone, was the most vulnerable device as it could be easily traced and through which your complete information could be looked into.

“Journalists are the mirror of society and they have to tell the truth, so there could be many possible enemies who could penetrate their digital accounts to get their personal information and misuse that,” he observed.

Zafar said there are several software and applications which could help encounter cyber threats, such as Spybot. This software could help in leaving no trace to be located by others, while Firewall would tell you what is entering your computer and what is going out of it without getting notice of it,” he added.

He said Chrome and Firefox are reliable browsers, therefore, using Internet Explorer should be avoided, while in e-mail services Hotmail and Yahoo are the most vulnerable services, although Gmail is relevantly better. The manager said opening website with writing https in browser is more secure rather than http which is insecure.

A trainer of Bytes for All, Farhan Hussain, said Facebook privacy settings must be checked from time to time as they very often change it without giving any notification, expose your private things and posts.

“In case there is a threat from cyber crimes to you or somebody is bothering you on mobile, which is usually faced by females, then FIA could be contacted as they have a cyber wing to deal with these kinds of troubles which is very effective and efficient,” he said.

A former master trainer and commandant of Federal Civil Defence Training School (FCDTS), Sarfaraz Ahmed Jafri, said: “Readiness of mind has a key importance for a person at the time of emergency or disaster to apply safety measures and rescue his own life and, if gets chance, others, as well.”

He said there was no alternative for a human life, therefore, it was always necessary to save it first. “Disaster or emergency mostly occur suddenly so, one should always be prepared for that and keep a first aid kit with him at home and while travelling away.”

Jafri said at the time of emergency one is required to check ABC (airway, breathing and circulation) of the victim. “Apply direct pressure to the wound and wash it thoroughly, however if something for example shrapnel or bullet shell penetrates body, it should not be pulled out because bleeding would be uncontrollable if it was pulled out.”

Senior trainer, Sub-Inspector Gul Awan said nobody should come closer to the crime scene or try to touch things around but law-enforcement agencies, because everything, if placed as it was right after the crime, could tell about the criminals through forensic evidences, and the threat of a secondary blast was always looming there. You may cover it closely after the police had completed their investigation.

“Always keep a way out first in your mind before entering any mobbed area. Do not try to run during crossfire but take shelter behind something solid or lay down straight because it is difficult for targeting a person lying down from a distance,” he said.

A DSP, on the occasion, said law-making was direly needed in the society as we were still following slavery-era law (British) in which direct FIR was reported without prior investigation which meant that now the accused could only get bail through court.

Principal of Police Training College, SP Javed, lauded the initiative taken by PPF for educating journalists about crime scene.

FCDTS’s senior trainer Altaf Hussain Dada, PPF’s Sr. Co-ordinator Musawir Shahid, Co-ordinator Naseem Akhter Shaikh, representatives of Hyderabad Press Club, Khuzdar Press Club, Quetta Press Club, Larkana Press Club Mirpurkhas Press Club and Nawabshah Press Club and local media people were also present on the occasion.

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