Urgent call for journalist safety: Sindh unites for press freedom

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published last year

KARACHI—Journalist unions and press club representatives from across Sindh gathered in solidarity at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday, urging immediate actions to safeguard journalists and uphold freedom of expression in the province.

The occasion marked the unveiling of a significant report titled 'Journalism in the Shadow of Violence' by Freedom Network. Representatives from Sukkur, Khairpur, Hyderabad, and Karachi were vocal about the pressing need for intervention to protect journalists amidst growing threats.

Organized by the Sindh chapter of the Pakistan Journalists Safety Coalition (PJSC), the event aimed to advocate with policymakers for comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of journalists in the province.

Iqbal Khattak (pictured), Executive Director of Freedom Network, emphasized the report's depiction of the current state of media freedoms and journalists' safety in Sindh. Despite existing legislation, Sindh remains a hotspot for journalist safety concerns, with 184 reported incidents of violence against journalists between 2018 and 2023, including the tragic killings of ten journalists.

PJSC Sindh Chapter President, journalist Amir Lateef, expressed alarm over the escalating targeting of journalists, particularly in northern Sindh, where physical attacks have surged significantly. Emphasizing the crucial role of state support, he pledged to leverage the report's findings to advocate for governmental backing to mitigate safety risks faced by journalists.

Key demands voiced at the event included immediate empowerment of the Sindh Commission for the Protection of Journalists and other media practitioners to assist journalists in distress. Additionally, speakers highlighted the accountability of media owners for ensuring the safety of their employees and the necessity of support mechanisms for journalists facing legal and physical threats in rural Sindh.

The report also underscored the need for professional journalism and safety-related training, collaboration between the Sindh Bar Council and journalist unions to provide legal aid, and the establishment of regional offices for the Sindh Commission for the Protection of Journalists to offer comprehensive support across the province.

In conclusion, the event shed light on the challenges faced by journalists in Sindh and called for concerted efforts to protect press freedom and ensure the safety of those at the forefront of reporting critical issues in the region.

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