JournalismPakistan.com | Published June 13, 2017
Join our WhatsApp channelNEW YORK - Pakistani police and prosecutors should credibly investigate death threats and a possible attempt on the life of The Express Tribune journalist Rana Tanveer and should bring the perpetrators to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.
Tanveer told CPJ that a car ran into him at high speed as he traveled by motorbike on a small road in Lahore on June 9, breaking his leg, and that he believed the incident to have been a deliberate attempt on his life.
On May 30, the journalist, who has written extensively about religious minorities in Pakistan, awoke to find his home in Lahore had been vandalized with messages calling him a supporter of the Ahmadi sect and calling for his death.
Tanveer told CPJ that he left his home as a precaution and reported the incident to police, but that they did not open a First Information Report, which is necessary for investigations to take place.
Tanveer told CPJ that he has received several threats over the years, both at his workplace and home. Roughly three months ago, Tanveer said, an unidentified caller phoned his landlord and told him that he should stop renting to the journalist because he was “an enemy of Islam.”
In 2013, he said, he received a threatening letter at his office, and the following year he received several threatening phone calls in response to his reporting.
Tanveer said that he reported the incidents to police, but that they took no action. Police did open an investigation to determine who ran into him while he was on his motorbike, Tanveer said.
“It’s outrageous that police failed to act when Rana Tanveer reported threats to his life,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “We call on authorities to swiftly bring to justice those responsible for vandalizing Tanveer’s home.”
Police in Lahore did not respond to CPJ’s phone calls and emails seeking comment. – Committee to Protect Journalists/Image courtesy: Pakistan Today
May 20, 2025: Popular journalist Imran Riaz Khan advises subscribers to use VPN as Pakistan plans to ban several YouTube channels including his with 5.86 million followers.
May 19, 2025: CPJ urges Pakistan to restore Ahmad Noorani’s blocked YouTube channel and stop harassing his family. The journalist could face three-year jail under cybercrime laws amid escalating media crackdown.
May 15, 2025: Dawn faces backlash for publishing ex-CJ Qazi Faez Isa's op-ed, accused of undermining democracy and aiding election rigging. Politicians and journalists condemn the move.
May 12, 2025: PFUJ pays tribute to journalists flogged under General Zia’s martial law in 1978, vowing to resist modern censorship and uphold press freedom in Pakistan.
May 09, 2025: In a bizarre media meltdown, Indian TV channels declared war on Pakistan, claimed imaginary victories and pushed fake narratives—leaving even Indian viewers stunned and apologetic.
May 05, 2025: India has banned prominent Pakistani journalist Rana Mubashir’s YouTube channel, expanding its crackdown on 16 other Pakistani media outlets. The move follows accusations of "false narratives" against India.
May 03, 2025: Pakistan's press freedom under severe threat as PFUJ condemns repressive laws and systematic journalist harassment on World Press Freedom Day. Union reports journalist killings, financial targeting, and government failure to implement safety measures.
May 02, 2025: Dawn has strongly denied publishing any report claiming that TTP stole a PAF F-16 fighter jet, labeling the viral screenshot as fake and digitally manipulated.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.