A dark year for journalists

Despite sacrificing their days performing professional obligations, many journalists died in mysterious circumstances

Karachi: For journalists in Pakistan, the best way to sum up the year 2022 is to rephrase the famous lines from Charles Dickens’ masterpiece ‘A Tale of Two Cities.’ It reads, “It was the worst of times, it was the age of barbarism, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of darkness, it was the winter of despair.”

In short, it was a year of mourning for the journalist fraternity in Pakistan — indeed so because a lot of journalists living in our country despite sacrificing both their days and nights each day to perform their professional obligations, succumbed to death in mysterious circumstances and tragically enough that did not disturb the tranquil sleep of the rest of the country, especially those at the helm of affairs.

It was a bloodstained year for the newsmen in Pakistan for they can never forget the brutal assassination of ARY ‘s Arshad Sharif in Kenya — thousands of miles away from his family graveyards, the tragic death of Sadaf Naeen of Channel-5, under the wheels of Imran Khan’s truck during his Long March, the horrific killing of Capital TV’s Hasnain Shah in broad daylight outside the Lahore Press Club in an outrageous and brazen attack, the gruesome murder of Zia-Ur-Rehman Farooqi, a correspondent for 7 News Channel, in the Khanewal district of Punjab, allegedly for his critical reporting of land grabbing schemes in the area, the mysterious killing of Iftikhar Ahamad of Express News Channel in Charsadah, Nazim Jokhio was allegedly killed for reportedly filming a video of some foreigner hunters and uploading it on social media in a bid to stop foreigners from hunting and heinous murder of Muhammad Younis, a correspondent of Daily Express in Jhang.

Some incidents mentioned above are the unfinished stories of a year — ceaseless journey shot through with oppression, writhing and tears, it is not easy to be a journalist here in Pakistan, as has been once again proven this year, ending up as one of the most deadlier years for journalists – laden with grief and pain. Sadly enough according to the annual report (2021) by Reporters without Borders (RSF), the Pakistani media, once vibrant and active, have now become a priority target for the authorities.

In a rising trend of harassment towards the media in the year 2022, Pakistani authorities registered cases against several journalists, including Arshad Sharif, Sabir Shakir, Sami Ibrahim and Imran Riaz Khan, for allegedly posting ‘anti-state’ comments.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the International Commission of Jurists have condemned the recent series of attacks and growing pressure on journalists, demanding the government conduct prompt, impartial, and effective investigations into the attacks on journalists.

“The frequency and audacity with which journalists are being attacked in Pakistan are appalling,” said Brad Adams, Asia director. “The authorities must bring those responsible for these attacks to justice and ensure that all journalists can do their jobs without fear of intimidation or reprisals.”

The report, released on World Press Freedom Day on May 3, reveals that the state actors continue to be the largest threat source for journalists in Pakistan. The year can also be termed as the most painful year for those working especially, for the electronic media.

“As the digital media landscape is the new horizon over Pakistan, the government is more than anxious to crack down on online freedom and digital journalists are systematic targets of harassment, abuses and legal threats,” Iqbal Khattak, the Executive Director of Freedom Network, said. According to International Press Institute’s Death Watch, at least 75 journalists have been killed in Pakistan in the past two decades, and most of these cases have gone unsolved and unpunished. The cases of six journalists brutally murdered in 2022 are still shrouded in mystery.

Since Pakistan is registered as one of the world’s most dangerous countries for the press, local media organisations, journalists and the international community worked tirelessly to change the situation and improve working conditions. After years of lobbying, the Journalist Protection Act was finally passed by the National Assembly. “Now begins the real challenge: the success of this measure depends completely on its implementation,” said IPI Executive Director Barbara Trionfi said.

According to a White Paper issued at the end of 2020 by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), 2,658 journalists lost their lives in the line of duty. Iraq topped the list of most dangerous countries for journalists, as 340 lost their lives there, followed by Mexico (178), the Philippines (178), Pakistan (138), and India (116).

Terms like stress, burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder were unheard of in journalism earlier. Though it’s wishful thinking, let’s hope the year 2023 will be a year of a ‘free press’ for working journalists.