JournalismPakistan.com | Published April 30, 2014
Join our WhatsApp channel
Journalists in Pakistan live under the constant threat of killings, harassment and other violence from all sides, including intelligence services, political parties and armed groups like the Taliban, Amnesty International says in a new report.
'A bullet has been chosen for you': Attack on Journalists in Pakistan', describes how the Pakistani authorities have almost completely failed to stem human rights abuses against media workers or to bring those responsible to account.
Amnesty International has documented 34 cases of journalists being killed in Pakistan in response to their work since the restoration of democratic rule in 2008, but only in one case have the perpetrators been brought to justice.
But these killings are just the most brutal statistic – many more journalists have been threatened, harassed, abducted, tortured or escaped assassination attempts in the same period.
“Pakistan’s media community is effectively under siege. Journalists, in particular those covering national security issues or human rights, are targeted from all sides in a disturbing pattern of abuses carried out to silence their reporting,” said David Griffiths, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia-Pacific Director.
“The constant threat puts journalists in an impossible position, where virtually any sensitive story leaves them at risk of violence from one side or another.”
The report is based on extensive field research into over 70 cases and interviews with over 100 media workers in Pakistan. It examines several recent cases where journalists have been targeted for their reporting by a range of actors.
Numerous journalists interviewed by Amnesty International complained of harassment or attacks by individuals. Journalists are also victims of human rights abuses by non-state groups across the country.
Despite the wave of violence and attacks, the Pakistani authorities have largely failed to hold perpetrators to account. In the overwhelming number of cases researched by Amnesty International, authorities rarely adequately investigated threats or attacks or brought those responsible to justice.
Only in a handful of high-profile cases have more thorough investigations been carried out, and only after public outrage has made it impossible for authorities not to act.
“The government has promised to improve the dire situation for journalists, including by establishing a public prosecutor tasked with investigating attacks against journalists. But few concrete steps have been taken,” said David Griffiths.
March 20, 2025: The FIA has arrested journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick over his YouTube content, sparking concerns over press freedom. His family and media organizations demand transparency and his immediate release.
March 20, 2025: A Pakistani delegation, including journalists and filmmakers, secretly visited Israel, sparking controversy. The visit, facilitated by Israeli NGO Sharaka, aimed to promote cultural diplomacy. Read more on this developing story.
March 20, 2025: Amnesty International calls for an investigation into the enforced disappearance of journalist Ahmad Noorani’s brothers, condemning it as an attack on press freedom and human rights.
March 19, 2025: Islamabad Police deny raiding journalist Ahmad Noorani’s residence as his family files a complaint about the alleged abduction of his brothers. Noorani, residing in the US, claims his family was targeted due to his reporting.
March 19, 2025: The reported abduction of investigative journalist Ahmed Noorani's brothers marks a disturbing escalation in Pakistan's press freedom crisis, following his exposé on military leadership privileges.
March 16, 2025: Senior analyst Imtiaz Gul joins the growing list of journalists and commentators banned from Pakistani television, raising fresh concerns about declining press freedom in the country.
March 14, 2025: Explore how exiled Pakistani journalists are leveraging digital platforms to deliver independent analysis and fill critical information gaps that state-controlled media leaves behind, transforming the country's media landscape from abroad.
March 07, 2025: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has questioned the delay in the Arshad Sharif murder investigation, as the government seeks additional time to finalize a mutual legal assistance agreement with Kenya.
March 19, 2025 Apply for the NYU Stern Climate Economics Journalism Fellowship to deepen your understanding of climate economics and its impact on global finance. Applications close on April 20, 2025.
March 16, 2025 The Trump administration has ordered furloughs at U.S.-funded broadcasters, including Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia, raising concerns about press freedom and government control over media funding.
March 15, 2025 Explore the dynamic relationship between athletes and sports journalists, examining the challenges, ethical dilemmas, and mutual benefits that shape the sports media landscape.
March 14, 2025 The National Press Foundation is offering a fully funded journalism training workshop in Singapore from June 22 to 25. The workshop will cover sustainable global trade, investment, politics, and more. Apply by April 6.
March 14, 2025 The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urges Maharashtra authorities to ensure their AI-driven media monitoring plan does not undermine press freedom. The initiative, which classifies news as positive or negative, raises concerns over government overreach and self-censorship.