Taliban threaten ARY journalist

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 24 January 2015 |  JP Staff Reporter

Taliban spokesperson Ihasan Ullah Ihsan has threatened journalist Zia ul Haq over his reporting. The IFJ and PFUJ demand government action for media safety.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) have strongly condemned threats made to a Peshawar-based journalist and media rights activist by the Taliban.

The IFJ and PFUJ have called on the Pakistan Government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of this journalist and the entire media profession in Pakistan, the IFJ said in a post on its website.

Recently, the Taliban’s central spokesperson Ihasan Ullah Ihsan issued death threats to Zia ul Haq, the Peshawar-based assistant general secretary of the PFUJ and news bureau chief of ARY News. Ihsan, using an international mobile number called Haq’s personal mobile and warned him of severe consequences if ARY News continues to not propagate the Taliban’s views and the PFUJ continues its opposition of the Taliban.

The IFJ and the PFUJ is seriously concerned about the safety of Haq and urge the Government of Pakistan, and the Interior Ministry, to provided security to Haq.

The PFUJ said: “Pakistani journalists have been continuously receiving death threats from the Taliban.” They also urged the government to ensure the security and safety of journalists.

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KEY POINTS:

• Taliban threatens journalist Zia ul Haq of ARY News.
• IFJ and PFUJ condemn the threats and call for government intervention.
• Haq is a prominent media rights activist in Pakistan.
• Death threats against journalists are escalating in the region.
• The government urged to ensure the safety of media professionals.