Report presents a grim media situation with 92 violations in 2019

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 30 April 2020

The Pakistan Press Freedom Report 2019-20 underscores a grave media landscape with 92 reported violations against journalists. The findings indicate that no region is safe for media professionals, with the federal capital being the most dangerous area.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Freedom Network in its Pakistan Press Freedom Report 2019-20 has termed the situation of the media worrisome as it pointed out 92 incidents of violations against journalists, including murder, assault, censorship, threats, legal suits, and harassment over the past year.

According to the report, titled "Murders, Harassment and Assault: The Tough Wages of Journalism in Pakistan," an average of over seven cases of violations occurred in a moth—one every fourth day, or twice a week.

According to the findings of the report, "no place in the four Pakistani provinces, GB, AJK, and Islamabad are safe" for journalists. The federal capital was the riskiest territory with 34 percent of the cases of violence against media, followed by Sindh with (27 percent), Punjab (22 percent), KP (14 percent), and Balochistan (3 percent).

The report further said journalists who worked for television were the most vulnerable, as they were identified as a target in 69 percent of the cases, followed by print media (28 percent), and online journalists (3 percent). However, there was no incident of any radio journalist being targeted.

Illustration courtesy: Freedom Network

KEY POINTS:

• 92 incidents of journalist violations reported in 2019
• Federal capital ranked highest in violence against media
• Television journalists are most at risk with 69% of incidents
• All four provinces and federal areas are unsafe for journalists
• No reported violations against radio journalists.