Taliban warn media of more attacks

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 26 June 2012

The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) issued a warning to media outlets regarding negative coverage. They linked recent violence to perceived bias in reporting.

Summary

PESHAWAR: The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has warned the media of more attacks if “negative propaganda” against them was not stopped.

In an email sent out Monday night to television channels and newspaper offices, Ihsan-ullah-Ihsan, a spokesman for the TTP said the office of Aaj News was attacked because of the channel’s “biasness”.

The attack was carried out by four gunmen at the Karachi headquarters of the channel Monday that left a guard and another employee injured.

“We the mujahideen of TTP are a party in this war so it’s obligatory on the media to broadcast the stance of both sides in accordance with the ethics of journalism,” said the email.

“Aaj News violated this basic practice and repeatedly refused to broadcast our stance.”

The email refers to the Taliban attack on the secuirty forces in Dir two days ago. “When we tried to approach the correspondent of Aaj News at its head office they refused to take our side of the story and replied with abusive language.”

The email also points to Geo TV and “some other channels” saying they too were not presenting their point of view.

“If the media  do not change their policy then they will have to face the consequences. We advise journalists to be journalists and stay unbiased.”

Meanwhile, Arshad Aziz Malik, President of Khyber Union of Journalists told JournalismPakistan.com the email was authentic. “Some of our colleagues were able to contact the TTP spokesman and he confirmed he had sent this email.”
 

KEY POINTS:

• TTP threatens media with attacks if negative reporting continues.
• Aaj News was targeted by gunmen for alleged bias against the TTP.
• TTP claims the media must present both sides of the story.
• TTP warns of consequences for media not adhering to journalism ethics.
• The authenticity of the TTP's warning email was confirmed by a journalist union president.