JournalismPakistan.com | Published June 29, 2021
Join our WhatsApp channelISLAMABAD—Prominent journalist Hamid Mir in his recent article has termed Islamabad as the most dangerous city for journalists in Pakistan.
In a tweet, he asked: “Why Islamabad is the most dangerous city for journalists in Pakistan?”
He said that his column was recently published in Bangladesh’s popular newspaper Daily Naya Diganta, being published since 2004.
“It was 17 March 2021 when a murder attack was made on a young journalist, Ajay Kumar Lalwani, in Sukkur. Three bullets pierced his body. The injured journalist was taken to a hospital but he had lost the battle of life. Lalwani used to work for a TV channel and he also wrote for a local newspaper,” Mir wrote in his article, published in Bengali language.
He highlighted: “On 16 Feb 2020, the body of journalist Aziz Memon who was working for a Sindhi TV channel was recovered from a local canal in Mehrabpur. Police declared the incident a suicide case. Media persons dismissed the police report saying it was not suicide, it was a murder.”
“In March 2018, journalist Zeeshan Ashraf Butt who was associated with daily Nawa-i-Waqt was riddled with bullets in Sambrial. Moments prior to the attack, Zeeshan was calling the police and disclosing the name of the man who was going to murder him when the shots were fired that finished him,” Mir regretted.
“On 23 July, 2020, a journalist Anwar Jan Khethran was shot dead in Barkhan area of Balochistan. In the FIR, a provincial minister belonging to Barkhan was nominated as an accused. But police contended to arrest a bodyguard of the minister and let the real culprit go scot free,” he wrote.
“How many incidents should I discuss? How many anecdotes of bravery and courage shown by journalists should I relate?”
“From Geo’s correspondent Musa Khan Khel in Swat to ARY correspondent Abdul Haq Baloch in Khuzdar, we know their killers. But we failed to provide them justice. Journalism is a dangerous profession in Pakistan.”
Mir, in his article for Bangladeshi paper, also mentioned the recent report of the Freedom Network Pakistan, according to which from May 2020 to April 2021, 148 attacks were made on journalists, which is 41 percent higher than the previous year. Islamabad, according to the report, tops the list of attacks on journalists followed by Sindh and Punjab.
“The [FN] report has declared Islamabad the most dangerous city for media persons,” Mir highlighted. “Surveillance cameras are installed at every corner of Islamabad. But it is strange when Matiullah Jan is kidnapped or Ahmed Noorani is attacked, these cameras automatically stop working.”
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
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.