JournalismPakistan.com | Published March 29, 2018
Join our WhatsApp channel
Prominent editors and media figures from a media rights network across South Asia on Thursday condemned the killing of journalists in the region and said there is a pattern of violence against media workers.
The South Asia Media Defenders Network (SAMDEN) - which includes India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan - said it condemned the killing of journalist Sandeep Sharma in Madhya Pradesh, two journalists in Bihar and one in Pakistan.
It called upon governments and political parties across the spectrum to ensure the protection of journalists.
"The alarming pattern of attacks against journalists, without successful investigations or convictions, points towards shrinking freedom of expression and anti-media tendencies in democratic nations, and concerns the very right to life itself," said a statement signed by Sanjoy Hazarika, the International Director of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).
Sharma, a television channel stringer, was run over by a truck on Tuesday. He had conducted a sting operation exposing a police official in the area which showed the latter accepting a monthly bribe of Rs25,000 in exchange for allowing sand mining in a protected crocodile sanctuary.
In another incident, a correspondent of Pakistani Daily Nawa-i-Waqt, Zeeshan Ashraf Butt (pictured), was allegedly shot dead by a local political figure in Punjab. Butt apparently had a quarrel with the chairman of the Begowala Union Council and was reportedly shot by the latter, according to the police, quoted the Rural Media Network Pakistan (RMNP).
The RMNP said it was the second killing of a journalist in Pakistan this year.
"These come two days after the alleged murders of two journalists in Bihar - Navin Nischal and Vijay Singh, who were chillingly run over by a man driving a local leader's car, and represent a burst of attacks on media workers in one week in India."
"They are demonstrative of the increasing violence being directed towards media persons. Impunity recognizes no borders. Reporters in rural and areas (where) vernacular media appear (are) particularly vulnerable to arbitrariness and threatening conduct," the statement said.
Others signing the statement include Tarun Basu, Director and former Chief Editor, IANS and President, Society for Policy Studies (SPS); Siddharth Varadarajan, Founding Editor, The Wire; and television personalities Karan Thapar, Rajdeep Sardesai and Nidhi Razdan. - IANS/Photo: eyenewsnetwork.com
December 05, 2024: UNESCO and IRADA hosted a national consultation in Islamabad, calling for inclusive Internet governance reforms in Pakistan to protect digital rights, freedom of expression, and access to information through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
December 04, 2024: A viral video claiming journalist Matiullah Jan was expelled from PMA has been debunked by iVerify Pakistan. The video, edited with AI, originates from the drama serial Ehd-e-Wafa.
November 30, 2024: Journalist Matiullah Jan has been released from Adiala Jail after securing bail, ending fears of a potential transfer to Attock Jail. He expressed gratitude to supporters and shared light-hearted moments about his custody.
November 30, 2024: Daily Dawn condemns the arrest of journalist Matiullah Jan as a misuse of the law. The editorial highlights concerns over the state's weaponization of legal provisions against journalists, activists, and dissenters.
November 30, 2024: The Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court has granted bail to journalist Matiullah Jan in a case involving drugs and terrorism charges. He was released on a surety bond of PKR 10,000 following the suspension of his physical remand by the Islamabad High Court.
November 29, 2024: The Lahore High Court has ordered the production of journalist Shakir Mahmood Awan’s alleged kidnapper by Monday while summoning IG Punjab and demanding CCTV footage from Safe City.
November 29, 2024: Suno TV faces criticism for targeting senior journalist Matiullah Jan with a smear campaign following his controversial abduction and arrest. This raises serious concerns about media ethics and press freedom in Pakistan.
November 29, 2024: WISPAP has requested the Ministry of Interior to extend the deadline for VPN registration in Pakistan, citing the need to ensure compliance amid increasing VPN usage after platform bans.
December 05, 2024 Over 50 journalists protested in Kuala Lumpur against proposed amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act, which threaten press freedom. IFJ and NUJM urge the government to withdraw the bill and engage in stakeholder consultation.
December 04, 2024 The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 faces uncertainty as Pakistan's hosting rights clash with India's refusal to participate. A political and financial standoff unfolds.
December 03, 2024 Submit your work for the Global Shining Light Award by February 28, 2025. Celebrate investigative journalism from the Global South at the Kuala Lumpur conference.
November 21, 2024 Investigative journalist Rana Ayyub received over 200 threats after her phone number was leaked on social media by a right-wing content creator. IFJ and IJU demand Maharashtra authorities take immediate action against those responsible for this targeted online harassment.
November 20, 2024 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Germany is accepting applications for its 2025 Berlin Fellowship Program, offering journalists from crisis areas six months of digital security training, networking opportunities, and more.