Eight violations reported against journalists in May: Freedom Network

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 12 June 2020

A report by Freedom Network details eight cases of violence and threats against journalists in May 2020. The incidents include verbal threats, attacks, and a murder.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—A Freedom Network (FN) report has recorded eight cases of threats, including murder, against journalists in May 2020.

According to the report, one case of legal notice, one each of murder, injury, and attack on a home, and four cases of verbal threats to journalists were reported.

Former ISI chief late Hameed Gul's daughter and owner of Waran Bus Service, Rawalpindi, Uzma Gul sent a legal notice of Rs500 million to YouTuber Syed Aoun Sherazi over the news about the bus service.

Unknown assailants killed Zulfiqar Ali Mandhrani, a reporter with Sindhi-language newspaper Koshish in Garhi Khairo in Jacobabad district, Sindh.

Ijaz Khan, senior sports journalists at the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), was attacked and injured by unknown men on Charsadda Road in Peshawar as he headed home from work. On the other hand, Dawn correspondent Allah Bux Aresar’s home was attacked in Umerkot, Sindh.

A DawnNews correspondent in Bajaur, an Express News reporter in Rahim Yar Khan, Islamabad-based 24 News reporter Usman Javed Malik, and Shahzad Rathore, editor Daily Jammu Kashmir, Islamabad, received verbal threats.

Five journalists from the print media, two working for the electronic media, and an online journalist faced violations. Police were involved in three of the eight cases and criminal gangs in four others. In one case, the threat actor could not be determined.

Eight cases of threats, including murder, take place against #journalists during #May2020. #Punjab leads other provinces with maximum cases as #FN releases threat data analysis to highlight safety & security concerns #media and its practioners facing.https://t.co/jimWPRCx8v

— Freedom Network (@pressfreedompk) June 12, 2020

KEY POINTS:

• Eight cases of threats against journalists reported in May 2020.
• Incidents include murder, attacks, and legal notices.
• Police involvement in three cases; criminal gangs in four.
• Punjab recorded the highest number of cases among provinces.
• The report highlights ongoing safety concerns for media personnel.