Seven reporters were killed in the line of duty in 2013, the report said, blaming the government\u2019s \u201cunwillingness to administer justice\u201d.<\/p>\r\n

By comparison, ten journalists were killed in Syria, eight in the Philippines and seven in Somalia.<\/p>\r\n

Placing Pakistan as the 158th country out of 180 on its Press Freedom Index, the report noted: \u201cThe government appears powerless in the militant\u2026 and the military establishment, which is known as a \u2018state within a state\u2019 among many international observers.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Four of the deaths occurred in Balochistan, which is wracked by violence and insurgency.<\/p>\r\n

Cameraman Imran Shaikh and his colleague Saifur Rehman were among those killed after rushing to cover a bomb which hit the provincial capital of Quetta in January 2013.<\/p>\r\n

Both men died after being hit by a second blast that occurred ten minutes after the first.<\/p>\r\n

Shaikh\u2019s widow, Shazia Bano, told AFP the family lived in constant threat, but he continued his work regardless.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cHe was not scared and used to say that it is our job and we have to do it\u2026 I used to force him to quit his job as journalist but he replied, what I should do if I quit?\u201d<\/p>\r\n

While Shaikh and Rehman were caught up in militant violence, other journalists fall victim to the powerful interests linked to the government or intelligence agencies.<\/p>\r\n

Riaz Baloch, another journalist who published a story about a pro-government figure linked to a car theft operation, told AFP he was kidnapped, tortured, and detained for nearly 60 days.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cThey took me to mountains\u2026 where I was subjected to severe torture and I was asked \u2026 why I published the news.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

The constitution theoretically protects freedom of speech, and the media is seen as having taken great strides in recent years.<\/p>\r\n

But certain subjects, particularly criticism concerning the all-powerful army and spy agencies, remain taboo.<\/p>\r\n

Last year Pakistan was placed 159 out of 179 countries in the index, with nine journalists killed.<\/p>\r\n

Express Tribune<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

QUETTA: Pakistan remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in its annual report released on Wednesday, with Balochistan a hotspot for violence. Seven reporters were killed in the line of duty in 2013, the report said, blaming the government\u2019s \u201cunwillingness to administer justice\u201d. … <\/p>\n