On January 24, 2014, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expressed its ongoing concern for the safety of journalists in Pakistan with reports that a senior leader of IFJ affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), has received death threats in direct response to his activism and campaigning. The IFJ is calling on the Pakistan government to take heed of the calls by Pakistan’s journalists to take action on journalist killings.

The threat on Rana Azeem follows increased national actions by PFUJ members since the recent shooting assassination of three Express News workers and the murder of investigative journalist Shan Dahar on January 1. The PFUJ has called for “10 days of mourning” and increased its visible protests against Taliban and terrorist threats to the media, especially in the troubled Balochistan province.

“Mr Azeem and the PFUJ have strongly conveyed the message to Pakistan government officials, including the Prime Minister but there has been no response on how the government intends to tackle the issue of journalist killings,” the IFJ said. “The government must respond and the media must be protected.”

The PFUJ maintains that journalists must remain visible and vocal to stop further killings.

“It’s not just me receiving threats, many journalists are being threatened and have complained to government but things go on the same,” Rana Azeem said. “Things here in Pakistan seem to be out of control. There is no other way than to go to the people to let them know.”

On January 21, the IFJ sent a letter to Prime Minister Sharif, calling for “serious and overdue action” to protect Pakistani journalists and bring attackers to justice. The IFJ said rhetoric was no longer enough, and it is now time for real action.

Pakistan ranks as the third most dangerous country for journalists, according to the number of fatalities in 2013 as collated by the IFJ. Already in January, four media workers have lost their lives in the line of duty. In October, the IFJ launched the End Impunity campaign to seek justice for journalist killings in Pakistan, Iran and Russia.

Since January 1, 2000, more than 90 journalists have been killed and, despite the appalling statistic, there has not been a successful prosecution.

“The threats against Pakistan’s journalists are palpable as the record of carnage and atrocities shows,” the IFJ said. “At this challenging time for our colleagues in Pakistan, we honour and respect these brave individuals and call for national solidarity so they can continue to raise their voices as a united front against threats to our profession.”

IFEX

The community held seminars, rallies and ceremonies in their cities and districts to pay the rich tributes to all those journalists who were killed in the line of duty, in Pakistan and around the world.

In Lahore, a torch bearer rally led by PFUJ President Rana Azeem was conducted from PUJ Secretariat to Faisal Chow. Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Machael, PML-L Lawyers Forum Lahore’s Information Secretary Advocate Mushfaq Ahmad Khan, Member Federal Executive Council of PFUJ Farrukh Baseer, Mian Dawood, senior journalists, teachers, students and people from other walks of life also participated in the rally.

Addressing with rally, PFUJ President Rana Azeem announced to give 10-marlas plots to the martyred journalists. The PFUJ president also announced to form a special fund of Rs10 million for the journalists who have been terminated from the jobs and for educational expenditure of children of the low paid journalists.

He paid rich tribute to the martyred journalists and said their sacrifices would be remembered always.

Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Machael said the journalists became the voice of the desperate people of the society. He announced to give bullet proofs jackets to the journalists. In Islamabad, PFUJ organised a seminar on Tuesday to pay tributes to the journalists who were killed in the line of duty in the country and all over the world.

Former Federal Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira as a chief guest on the occasion said that the journalist community has always remained on the forefront of all the movements in the country including freedom movement and the movement for restoration of democracy.

He said that in the present testing times when the whole nation is fighting the menace of terrorism, the journalists have set a noble example by giving great sacrifices while exposing the real designs of the evil forces.

He congratulated the PFUJ and other journalist organizations for organizing the seminar in memory of their martyred companions. Addressing the participants, President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Afzal Butt said that journalists will always remember those members who embraced martyrdom.

“We have also appealed to the international journalist bodies to show solidarity with the victims and their families”, he added. He further added that by observing November 19 as the day for martyred journalists, PFUJ will try to draw world’s attention towards the threats being faced by Pakistani journalists.

Journalists from Rawalpindi and Islamabad, civil society members, representatives of different political parties and people from different walks of life attended the event.

In Karachi, the journalists, members of civil society and political workers also lit the lamps and candles in a ceremony to pay rich tributes to all those journalists who were killed in the line of duty, in Pakistan and around the world. Addressing with the ceremony, Senior Minister of Sindh Nisar Khorro said no one could ignore the sacrifices of the journalists who lost their lives during the duty hours.

“Pakistan Peoples Party pays rich tributes to all martyred journalists of Pakistan,” said the senior minister, adding the efforts and struggle of the journalists in restoration of the democracy in the county were appreciating.

The Nation