Deadliest place to be a journalist.pdf

7/30/2019 Deadliest place to be a journalist.pdf

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MEDIAMONITOR

S O U T H A S I A

SOUTH ASIA MEDIA COMMISSION

Deadliest place to be a journalist

28 journalists die in target killing

Media Commission-Pakistan

South Asian Free Media Association, (SAFMA) Pakistan


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he appointment of the Judicial Commission to and death by torture sent a wave of anger and fear

investigate the Saleem Shahzad case and across the media community, which took to the streetsTother related issues is by itself a welcome to demand a probe into the ghastly act. Although thedevelopment that, in a way, may discourage those who ISI denied the allegation, fingers were raised against

are in the habit of intimidating the media. While the agency, which the deceased had himself blamed in

Saleem Shahzad's case is a test case for investigating case of possible harm. The suspicion about ISI's

agencies to unearth the truth, offering an exceptional involvement might not have held ground had the same

opportunity to break with the culture of impunity, officer not made threatening calls to various

there are other related macro-issues that need to be journalists, including myself , regarding their

deliberated on to preempt such heinous crimes and views/reports which he thought to be inimical to

uncalled-for confrontation between the media and the Pakistan's interests.

government and its security agencies. The case,

besides criminal investigations, should be evaluated This was when the armed forces had come under

in the broader context of a pattern of intimidation, greater critical scrutiny. Event after eventfrom

arm-twisting the media (persons and organizations), Abbotabad to Mehran, Kharotabad (the murder of five

freedom of expression, the right to know, security of Russians) to Karachi (the Sarfraz case) and Saleem

whistl eb lowers /messengers/re porters/anal ys ts Shahzad's gruesome murderkept the media's focus

(especially those covering or commenting on conflict) on the conduct of law enforcement agencies and

the professional hazards of conflict reporting, and defense apparatuses to the annoyance of the powersthmedia-military relations. that be. A very tough statement issued after the 139

Corps Commanders' meeting saw it as an attempt to

As a journalist and media rights activist, the objective drive a wedge between the armed forces, organs of

of my appearance before the Commission is not to the state, and the nation, and resolved to put an endmalign any person or security institution, which I to it [unfortunate trend]. I understand the kind of

regard as the pivotal bulwark of our national security, pressure on our armed forces and appreciate the

but to help the Commission to look at the broader difficulties they face in their own and the nation's fight

picture and recommend ways to avoid such against terrorism. They need our and the entire

controversies and safeguard journalists and the nation's fullest and unflinching support to root out

sanctity of their profession, while helping various this scourge.

government security agencies, if you so permit, evolve

a modus operandi that is lawful, useful, honorable, That said, Pakistan has a long history of

and in conformity with fundamental human rights, unconstitutional military rule, censorship, and both

civil and political rights and the Johannesburg the intimidation of the media and its co-option by

Principles (1995). dictators. We have seen the protracted struggle ofboth the media and civil/political society for freedom

Saleem Shahzad's brutal murder took place against of expression, a free press, democracy, and

the backdrop of the humiliation of the Abbottabad fundamental rights. From Field Marshall Ayub Khan

operation and an investigative report by the deceased to General Yahya Khan, General Ziaul Haq to General

journalist on the terrorist attack on the Mehran naval Musharraf, we have seen the brutalization of civil

base in Karachi that exposed the vulnerability of our society, the muzzling of the press, and the

valuable strategic assets to Pakistan's foremost marginalization of civilian structures, including

enemythe terrorists. Saleem Shahzad's kidnapping representative institutions, judiciary, civil service,

Media-Military Relations(Statement before the Judicial Commission on Saleem Shahzad's killing)

Imtiaz Alam, Editor South Asian Journal, Secretary General, SAFMA

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SOUTH ASIAMEDIACOMMISSION


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political parties and the media. The expansion of the attack for making a joint cause with lawyers and civil

military establishment's writ to strategic civilian society.

spheres continued even after the exit of military

dictators under various civilian dispensations. This Post-9/11, as the war against terrorism started and

characterizes the tension in civil-military and media- conflict expanded to far-flung regions, conflict

military relations. reporting became a major preoccupation of the

mediaboth print and electronic. A large number ofA typical policy of carrot and stick pursued by both journalists found conflict reporting to be a

military dictators and civilian rulers produced two dangerously flourishing undertaking. That is why, as

types of media role models: the darbarior toddy type in other conflict zones, the number of journalist

and the defiantly professional type. Those who learnt casualties peaked in our country and it became the

the art of sycophancy and changed their ideologies most dangerous place in the world for journalists.

and betrayed the callings of their profession turned Given the vulnerability of journalists in conflict

out to be most successful and those who were reporting and their professional urge for stories from

romantic or professionals who stuck to their ideals the battlefield and from within warring parties,

and kept the sanctity of their profession above every including jihadi outfits and the military and its

temptation and faced all kinds of persecution and agencies, they felt the need to be embedded in various

turned out to be failures. The worst periods were parties to the conflict.those of Ayub Khan, who took over Progressive Papers

Ltd and created the Press Trust, Yahya Khan, who Conflict reporting became a complicated and

slaughtered journalists and intelligentsia who dangerous job, given the treacherous nature of infinite

opposed his military action in East Pakistan, and warring factions and various local and international

worst of all General Zia who co-opted the so-called agencies engaged in turf wars. Musharraf's dual policy

Islamists who declared him Amir-ul-Momineen and of appeasing both warring camps further sent

lashed out at those who dared to stand up to his conflicting signals to the world, jihadis, and his own

hypocrisy by either throwing them out of the establishment. This hypocritical policy conceded

profession or sending them to jail. everything secretly to US demands while denying it in

public to preserve a dubious faade on issues such as

As access to power is a source of greater privileges in drone attacks, etc. On one hand, our valiant soldiers

the Third World, a new breed of successful journalists were fighting terrorists guilty of attacking innocent

also came to the fore those who had access to civilians and soldiers; on the other hand, other

information that was available to few under operatives were being asked to give sanctuary to those

authoritarian dispensations. A censorship regime also that Musharraf thought might provide him with

flourished during military governments and the bargaining chips.

oversight by the military personnel extended to

newsrooms and journalists, while were hired on a This not only confused many in the security

special payroll to do the dirty work which continued establishment, it also sent conflicting signals to

even after the military ruler was gone. An interesting journalists who were either embedded or who, in their

phenomenon flourished under General Musharraf, professional zeal, had tried to expose the real face of

who learnt his lesson from the Kargil misadventure various parties to the conflict. Most journalists who

and realized the importance of the media's role, were caught in the crossfire of the conflict or lost their

subsequently allowing it to expand as part of his lives in target killings by state or nonstate actors were

overall strategy. He also encouraged the penetration victims of this planned but confusing war theatre. As

of intelligence agencies to keep control of what had the war theatre expanded and became increasingly

become uncontrollable. The struggle to win back complex, the intelligence agencies tried to bring more

civilian space peaked when the movement for the and more media persons and organizations on board.

restoration of an independent judiciary was joined by Not only did some embedded journalists become

a buoyant electronic media, which also came under victims of their own critiques when they broke with


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the establishment's line, many brave journalists who threat. Moreover, the Commission should

remained loyal to their professional code fell to the open its proceedings to the public.

guns of mercenaries.

2. All cases of the target killings of journalists

Two lessons are to be drawn from this murky should be investigated and the culprits

experience: brought to justice. The Commission must

supervise the investigation into theOne, journalists should seek information from kidnapping and murder of Saleem Shahzad

wherever possible without becoming part of or spying and probe all alleged suspects with the

for one warring group or the other, including security cooperation of various agencies.

organizations and militant outfits. They must adhere

to their professional code of conduct while taking the 3. In its enlightened self-interest, the ISI must

necessary safety measures. That said, reporting on clear its name in the Saleem Shahzad case

conflict objectively, fearlessly, and impartially and investigate the conduct of its often named

remains a professional hazard. media handler and others who have allegedly

threatened other journalists. Other agencies,

Two, the security and intelligence agencies should including the IB and naval intelligence, must

draw a clear line that does not exceed their lawful also explain their conduct with regard to thelimits, which otherwise brings a bad name to their media.

professional institutions. The ISI must deflate its

larger-than-life image, focus on its mandated job, and 4. The armed forces, paramilitary forces, and

evolve a transparent policy in its relationship with the their intelligence agencies, the IB and other

media. It should drastically rethink its media- secret agencies, must evolve a clear policy and

engagement policy and dispense with the army of code of conduct for embedding journalists

pseudo-journalists that it keeps on its payroll and who and refrain from trying to control the media.

have proved to be good for nothing. It must stop those In their own institutional interest, they

elements within that indulge in all manner of unlawful should critically rethink media-military

actsharassing citizens and journalistsand bring a relations whi le respect ing freedom of

bad name to an otherwise most effective arm of our expression and the right to know. There are

national security. I hope that the ISI under General better ways of doing things than adopting

Pasha's able and credible leadership will take all rough and counterproductive tactics.

possible measures to rid his institution of

unscrupulous elements and stop dreaming about 5. Journalists reporting on conflict must

controlling the uncontrollablethe media of the new observe the Media Code of Ethics.

cyber age.

6. Journalists should be provided risk and life

I propose the following: insurance coverage both by the government

and media employers. Training in conflict

1. Besides investigating Saleem Shahzad's case, reporting, the provision of safety measures

the Judicial Commission must expand its and kits, and security by security agencies are

mandate to address the intimidation of some of the measures that should be

journalists, the media-military relationship, undertaken.

secret funds to manipulate the media, issues

of freedom of expression and the right to 7. Freedom of expression must be respected in

know, security of and insurance coverage for the light of the Johannesburg Principles

media persons, and create an institutional (1995) and all state functionaries should be

arrangement, such as an ombudsman, to made aware of them. The proposed Freedom

provide protection to journalists under of Information draft should be presented

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before Parliament for approval and rules framed profession must be stopped by the leadership

immediately. of the armed forces, while special cells should

be created in all security agencies to address

8. Ombudsmen with powers equivalent to citizens' complaints against the excesses of

Supreme/High Court judges should be agency officials.

appointed at the federal, provincial, and

FATA level to address all complaints of 10. All secret funds held by the Information

harassment and killing of journalists. Ministry, other ministries, and secret

Similarly, all media organizations must also agencies regarding the media should be

appoint an autonomous and effective regularly scrutinized by a joint committee of

ombudsman in their respective organizations Parliament.

to resolve all complaints against media

persons. [email protected] Cell

0300-8426425

9. The interference of agencies in the media

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akistan's Military Inc is angry at leading underpin the nation-state. Therefore if the latter is

sections of the local and foreign media for kosher for critical appraisal, the former should not

Pspreading false, baseless and malicious take exception to an application of the same rules to itsnews and analyses designed to destabilize and own behaviour and output.undermine the armed forces. Nothing less than avicious conspiracy against the noble and heroic The military should also realize that it cannot and

armed forces is alleged. should not monopolize the definition and defense of

There are two core dimensions to this angry retort. the national interest if it simultaneously wishes to

The first relates to domestic media criticism of the confer the ownership of it to the elected civilian

mil ita ry 's perf orm anc e, r ole and pol icy as government when it runs into trouble because of

demonstrated by a string of recent failures which indefensible and opaque policies contradictions in

show the military and its various agencies and allied point being the strategic or transactional

institutions in rather poor, even humiliating, light. relationship with the US, the winking policy on dronesThe second concerns the local media which is fearful and the war against the Al-Qaeda-Taliban terrorists

and angry after Saleem Shahzad's abduction and (our war or theirs).

killing and is alleging that the criminals' footprints

(as per Saleem's last testament to media watchdogs) The military's case on all core issues has been

lead to Aab Para. enormously weakened by its outright refusal, at first,

to accept independent and credible commissions of

The first clutch of criticisms relates to the military's inquiry both about its performance and about the

performance. The issue for the military here is not so Saleem Shahzad case and then, faced with relentless

much about the validity of the facts which are media pressure to concede, to try and tilt such

undeniable but whether it is proper to reveal them inquiries in its own favour by clutching at exclusionist

because they weaken the morale and public standing notions of national security and national interest.

of the armed forces and thereby undermine national It would have been less arrogant and more advisable

security. to concede independent commissions but to restrict

their findings to parliamentary or judicial committees

A rejoinder is in order. with powers to classify sensitive or national

In a democracy there are no sacred cows. If elected security issues, an acceptable norm in most

prime ministers, presidents, chief ministers, democracies.

opposition leaders, civil servants and businessmen

can be hounded out of government or dragged off to The military's understanding of the way the free

jails and courts, if the conduct of judges and their media functions in most established democracies is

judgments can be seriously questioned and criticized, also lacking. Such democracies in the West or in India

if the media can be regulated, if parliament can be put are built on solid and enduring foundations of civilian

on the mat, why can't the armed forces be stretched on and constitutional oversight over their respective

the same accountability rack? Surely, national militaries. That is why the civilians are quick to bail

security is determined as much by the potency of the out their militaries because they have established

military (which potency is determined by the institutional ownership of their country's military

yardstick of actual performance on the ground in any adventures and policies. That is also why the media in

eventuality) as it is by the vitality of the politico- such consensually-built democracies is quick to line

economic system and its interlocutors (civilians) that up behind their democratic governments and

Patriotism and the national interestNajam Sethi, Secretary General of South Asia Media Commission (SAMC)


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subservient militaries and the slogan of my country, The Pakistani military accuses the Pakistani media of

right or wrong resounds with force. Therefore it is not being as patriotic as the Western and Indian

tilting at windmills to accuse the western media of media because it is critical of its national security

destabilizing Pakistan by spreading lies that institutions unlike the enemy. In the event, the boot

undermine the Pakistani military, without making the might well be on the other foot. Even after threesame charge at their strategic foreign allies in which disastrous interventions spanning thirty years and a

such media are democratically and consensually military misadventure in Kargil in which elected

embedded. civilians and fellow air force and navy comrades were

kept out of the loop, the Pakistani army refuses to be

The difference between the free media in such subservient to the civilian constitutional order and

established, consensual and functional civilian insists of monopolizing the national interest. Under

democracies and the free media in a dysfunctional and the circumstances, it is a moot point at best whether

fledgling democracy with excessive military overhang the media or the military is more or less patriotic in

in Pakistan is also worth stating. heeding or hoodwinking Pakistan's democracy and

the constitution.


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Threats to journalists' safety on the riseJournalists in Pakistan are faced with insecurity. Threats to the safety of journalists, especially

those working in the conflict areas, are mounting against the backdrop of Pakistani state's fight

against militants. Journalists find it difficult to perform their duties. While militants target them

with impunity, fingers are also raised at the role of state agencies in their kidnapping and killing.

Forty-eight journalists have been killed in Pakistan since 2004, 28 of them in targeted attacks

earning Pakistan a dreadful tag of the deadliest place to be a journalist. Not in a single case, the

culprits have been arrested or prosecuted.

Given the serious threats to media freedom, the Media Commission-Pakistan, a country chapter of

the regional media rights watchdog South Asia Media Commission (SAMC), which was formed in

2007 was reorganized. On the demand of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, SAFMA andSAMC and the media community at large, the government set up a Judicial Commission to probe

the killing of Saleem Shahzad and a pattern of intimidation and assassinations of journalists in

Pakistan.

The PFUJ, Media Commission-Pakistan and SAFMA Pakistan proposed a four member Media

Committee to follow the Shahzad case and formulate recommendations for the protection of

journalists. The Media Committee is headed by M Ziauddin, editor, the Express Tribune. Zahid

Hussain, SAFMA Pakistan vice president, Tariq Chaudhary, PFUJ vice president, and Tahir

Rathore, the president of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists are other members of the

committee.

The MCP and SAFMA Pakistan propose that besides investigating Saleem Shahzad's case, theJudicial Commission expand its mandate to address the intimidation of journalists, the media-

military relationship, secret funds to manipulate the media, issues of freedom of expression and

the right to know, security of and insurance coverage for media persons, and create an institutional

arrangement, such as an ombudsman, to provide protection to journalists under threat. They also

want the Commission to open its proceedings to the public.

Sadaf ArshadExecutive Editor, South Asia Media MonitorCoordinator, Media Commission-Pakistan


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1: Wali Khan Babar and Faisal Mota was the mastermind, while three

January 13, 2011 other accused men are still missing. The murder

Wali Khan Babar, a reporter working for Geo was planned in KBR Colony at Mota's house forth January 12. After they failed to locate him, theyNews TV, was gunned down on January 13 in a

followed him from his office and intercepted himtargeted attack in Liaqatabad. Babar, 29, was the

near a school in Liaquatabad No. 1 on January 13,first reporter to die in the line of duty in Pakistan

reported Express Tribune.in 2011. According to the police, his bullet riddled

body was found in his car near the Super Market

A car (registration no. AM-22) was used. Babarshopping centre. According to Geo News, Babar

was killed for his daring reporting about targetwas stopped by terrorists on his way back homekillers, land grabbers and drug peddlers, saidand was shot dead after identifying him. Geo

the CCPO. The men are hardened criminals andNews called it a target killing in which Babar

involved in other target killings, but we are notreceived at least five bullets.

sure of their political affiliations, added Mirza.

Five men suspected of being involved in target

Those involved in the murder have beenkillings, including the murder of Wali Khan

remanded to the custody of the SpecialBabar were arrested on April 7. They have

Investigation Unit (SIU) till April 18. Theywereconfessed to killing Babar on January 13, said

brought to the Sindh High Court in an armoured-police chief Saud Mirza at a press conference. The

personnel carrier. The case was heard by Justicemen were identified as Faisal Mehmood,Maqbool Baqar in his capacity as theMuhammed Ali Rizvi, Shahrukh, Naveed and

administrative judge for the Anti-TerrorismMuhammed Shakeel. They were arrested from

Courts. Special Public Prosecutor ArshadGulshan-i-Iqbal. The absconding men wanted in

Cheema told the media that the accused have notthe case include Faisal 'Mota', Asad, Nasir,

been interrogated about Babar's murder sinceKamran and Saeed 'Commando'.

they had been arrested for some other crime. If

any evidence is found, they will be duly charged.At least 17 to 18 men were involved in the murder,

48 journalists dieincluding 28 in target killings

2004-2011


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on a motorcycle on his way home to

Two policemen, a police officer's brother and one Liaquatabad's police lines on January 31. He was

informer linked to the investigations into Wali linked to the case as he had identified the vehicle

Khan Babar's murder have been methodically Babar's attackers used. He was at the spot at the

targeted over four months of 2011. The Karachi time of the murder and noted down its

chief of police, Saud Mirza, admitted in a press registration number.

conference on April 7, 2011, that there was a The third victim was head constable Arshad

problem. There are threats to the lives of the Kundi (linked to victim No. 1). On March 19, he

investigators of this case, he said, but we are was shot dead in a drive-by attack by two men on

making arrangements for the foolproof security a motorcycle in Sohrab Goth. He worked with the

of these officers. Gulshan-e-Iqbal investigations police.

The first victim was Rajab Ali Bengali, a police The fourth victim, Naveed Khan, was the brother

informer, who was found dead, his body in a sack, of SHO Supermarket Shafiq Tanoli, who was part

on January 29 in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.. The police of the investigations. Naveed Khan was shot dead

found in his pocket a slip of paper with the name on April 7, the same day chief of police Saud

of head constable Arshad 'Kundi' written on it. Mirza gave a press briefing on Babar's case.

The note said that Kundi would be next. An Tanoli told The Express Tribune: I was a

officer involved in the investigation explained member of the team formed with the TPO

that HC Kundi was linked to the Babar case as he Liaquatabad to investigate this case. We arrested

was taking information from Bengali and was an important suspect from the Punjab. Aside

giving it to TPO Liaquatabad Naveed Khwaja. from this, there was no other reason why

someone would target my family. We've looked at

The second victim was police constable Asif Rafiq all other possibilities.

who was killed in a drive-by shooting by two men


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May 31, 2011 commission directed the FIA to access Shahad's

Syed Saleem Shahzad, who worked for Asia emails and produce them before the commissionthTimes Online and Italian news agency at the next hearing on July 6 . The PTA chairman

thAdnkronos, went missing on May 29 after was directed to produce a complete record of

writing about alleged links between Al-Qaeda calls made and received on Saleem Shahzad's cell

and Pakistan's navy. His body was found on May phone.st The PTA failed to submit Shahzad's cell phone31 near the town of Mandi Bahauddin, about 75

record to the commission in this meeting. Themiles (120 kilometers) south of the capital,

PTA has contacted the service providers andIslamabad.asked to preserve the call records.

thThe Supreme Court (SC) on June 16 accepted

The judicial commission probing SaleemSupreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)

Shahzad's murder on July 6 summoned 16 seniorpresident Asma Jahangir's petition, for the

journalists in their next meeting to be held onformation of an independent commission to

July 9. The list of journalists asked to appearprobe Shehzad's murder. This development

before the commission includes Hamid Mir,followed a five-member bench judicial

Zahid Hussain, Talat Hussain, Naseem Zehracommission formed by the federal government,

and Matiullah Jan, Aizaz Syed, Umer Cheemato be headed by Justice Saquib Nisar. Other

and president APNS Hameed Haroon amongmembers of the commission include Federal others.Shariah Court Chief Justice Agha Rafique, the

Islamabad DIG, Additional IG Investigation

The commission has asked journalists to providePunjab and PFUJ president.

information and help the investigation move

forward. The PFUJ provided the probeThe judicial commission, which startedth, commission with names of ten journalists whoproceedings on June 27 directed the FIA and

are willing to come forward and help. An earlierPTA to preserve all of Shahzad's records. The

instruction of reaching out to the family, friends


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2: Syed Saleem Shahzad


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SAFMA, SAMC demand judicial probe into Shahzad killing

LAHORE, May 31: South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) and South Asia Media

Commission (SAMC) have condemned the killing of Pakistani journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad

abducted in Islamabad a couple of days ago and demanded a judicial inquiry to probe the

incident and bring culprits to justice.

We are outraged at Shahzad's killing after mysterious disappearance. It is greatly worrying

that such gruesome events have been happening frequently against the backdrop of Pakistani

state's fight against militants, said SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam and SAMC Secretary

General Najam Sethi in a joint statement.

Journalists find it difficult to perform their duties as both parties the state agencies and the

militants -- target them with impunity, they said.

While South Asia has mourned the killing of at least 20 journalists, 12 of them from Pakistan, in

2010, Shahzad's death is the fourth this year in the line of duty.

The government should ensure that such incidents do not happen again and journalists work in

a safe environment. Showing no tolerance, it should also hold accountable those responsible for

such violations of journalists' right to information and expression, the SAFMA and SAMC

heads urged.

They called upon the concerned authorities to set their own house in order instead of

suppressing information dissent in the name of security. They also demanded a judicial inquiry

to probe the incident and bring culprits to justice.

SAMC, SAFMA

ISI denies it is behind Saleem Shahzad's killing

KARACHI: Pakistan's main intelligence agency issued a rare media statement June 1, to deny it was behind the

abduction and killing of a journalist who was investigating terrorism.

The ISI statement, in the form of a story carried by the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan, quoted an

unidentified intelligence official. It is regrettable that some sections of the media have taken upon themselves to

use the incident for targeting and maligning the ISI, the official was quoted as saying.

The agency's operatives occasionally brief journalists, but do not normally release information through APP.

The APP report quoted the ISI officer as saying there was nothing sinister about the meeting. The official said the

ISI would leave no stone unturned in helping to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice, but warned

that the media should act with responsibility to avoid any possible legal problems. It did not elaborate.


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and colleagues of the journalist for submitting

information voluntarily did not work, hence the

commission has decided to summon those who

could be of any help, the federal information

secretary said. IG Punjab and IG Islamabad, who

are a part of this commission as well, were

instructed to share their independent police

findings to the commission.

3: Ashiq Ali Mangi A six-member special investigation team hasFebruary 17, 2010 been constituted to probe the killing of Musa

Ashiq Ali Mangi, a reporter for Mehran TV, was Khankhel on February 20. It was formed onth

shot dead on February 17 outside the Khairpur directives of NWFP Inspector General of PolicePress Club by an unidentified gunman. Mangi Malik Naveed Khan reported Dawn. A policemay have been targeted for his professional work spokesman said the deputy inspector general ofafter airing footage of a feud been two local

police, Malakand range, would head the teamgroups on the privately owned Mehran TV. and its members included district police officer

of Swat, head of investigation department of4: Faiz Mohammad Khan Sasoli Swat, DSP Adam Khan and two inspectors Akbar

June 29, 2010 Khan and Mir Chaman Khan of the investigationFaiz Mohammad Khan Sasoli, former president unit of Peshawar. He said the additional IGPof Khuzdar Press Club and a correspondent of (investigation), Peshawar, would overallIndependent News of Pakistan (INP) and Daily supervise the investigation. Any suspect

Aaj Kal, was killed by unidentified persons in arrested in this case will be interrogated by thethKhuzdar district on June 29 . joint interrogation team, NWFP, the spokesman

said.5: Haji Misri Khan Orakzai

September 14, 2010 The investigation team formed to probe theHaji Misri Khan Orakzai, a reporter of Urdu- murder of Musa Khankhel has failed to beginlanguage dailies Ausaf and Mashriq, was investigation even after the passage of more thanmurdered in Hangu, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, on a month reported The News on March 24. The

thSeptember 14 . The Taliban claimed the team has only taken his (Musa's) blood-stainedresponsibility for his killing and threatened to clothes. It even did not record our statements,attack other journalists. said Essa Khankhel, brother of the slain Musa

Khankhel, who is also a journalist.6: Musa Khankhel

February 18, 2009 Commissioner of Malakand Syed MuhammadMusa Khankhel, correspondent of The News and Javed said, No progress has been made inGeo TV in the conflict-plagued region of investigation of Musa's murder. Actually, we areMingora, was kidnapped in Matta Tehsil of Sawat busy in other important issues and could not take

where he was covering the visit of Tehrik Nifaz-i- up the investigation into Musa's murder, heShariat Muhammadi's chief Maulana Sufi said, adding that they could give no timeframe forMohammad. Later his bullet-ridden body was completion of the probe. Javed said that as soonfound. as police were made fully functional in the


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troubled valley, Musa Khankhel's probe would be

started. Zubair Ahmed Mujahid, correspondent for the

national Urdu-language dailyJang, was shot

7: Dr. Chishti Mujahid dead while traveling on a motorcycle with

February 9, 2008 another journalist in the city of Mirpurkhas in therd.Dr. Chishti Mujahid, a senior columnist and southern province of Sindh November 23 Local

photojournalist working for the Urdu language journalists believed their colleague was slain

weekly Akhbar-e-Jehan, was killed by a because of his investigative reporting. My

gunman in Satellite Town, Quetta, on February brother was killed because of the critical articles

9th. Dr Mujahid along with his wife reached near he wrote, including on the state of the poor in our

the van waiting outside their house, a young man region, his older brother Muhammad Iftikhar

approached Dr Mujahid and opened fire with an said. The experienced correspondent for Jang

automatic weapon. The Balochistan Liberation wrote a weekly column Crime and punishment

Army (BLA), an underground separatist group, in which he often exposed landowners and police

claimed responsibility for murdering the officers.

journalist, saying that he had been supportive of

government policies and indulged in 'anti- 11: Hayatullah Khan

Baloch propaganda' in his political commentary.

8: Muhammad Ibrahim Khan

May 21, 2008

Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, a reporter for

privately-owned Express TV and its Urdu-

language sister daily Express, and general

secretary of TUJ (Bajaur unit), was gunned downst

by unidentified assailants on May 21 . He was

returning after interviewing with Maulvi Umar,

spokesman for the Tehrik Taliban-i-Pakistan

when five gunmen sprayed Ibrahim, with bullets

near Inayat Kali. No group had claimedJune 16, 2006responsibility so far for the killing.

Hayatullah Khan's body was found by villagers in

the North Waziristan town of Miran Shah onth

June 16 , where he had been kidnapped six

months earlier. Khan was abducted on December9: Qari Muhammad Shoaib5, 2005, by five gunmen who ran his car off theNovember 8, 2008

road as his younger brother, Haseenullah,Qari Muhammad Shoaib, a correspondent forwatched helplessly.two Mingora-based dailies, Azadi and Khabar

th Federal government on June 19, 2006,Karwas shot on November 8 by the securityappointed a Commission of Inquiry to probe theforces in the back of his head causing hisdeath of Hayatullah Khan. The commissionimmediate death when there was no curfew. Theconsisting of Mr Justice Mohammad Raza Khansecurity forces have admitted to killing theof Peshawar High Court will ascertain the causesjournalist by mistake and misunderstanding.of murder of late Mr Hayatullah Khan and10: Zubair Ahmed Mujahid

November, 23, 2007


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correctness of allegations regarding the aforesaid September 14, 2006

murder and to identify the persons or persons Maqbool Hussain Siyal, district correspondent of

responsible for the mischief. the Online news agency, was gunned down by

unidentified assailants in Dera Ismail Khan. He

The commis sion wil l commence inquiry was on his way to meet PPP leader Nawab Azek

immediately at place fixed by it and submit its when two gunmen, riding a bike, fired on him atreport, its findings and recommendations within Circular Road. An FIR was lodged with the City

thirty days or within such further period as may police station under section 302 of the Pakistan

be extended by the federal government at the Penal Code by his cousin Zaffar Abbas. Police

instance of the commission. The Commission has said it is looking into the incident from sectarian

been formed under the sub section (1) of the angle as well because Siyal belonged to Shia sect.

section 3 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1956

(VI of 1956) and sub section (1) of section 5.

Federal government has also announced that all

provision of sub sections (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6)

of section of 5 of the aforesaid act will apply to the

commission.

The Pakistani authorities, including information

minister Mohammad Ali Durrani, have greeted

the findings of the two reports they have received 13: Sajid Tanoli

about the kidnapping and murder of Hayatullah January 29, 2004

Khan on September 13, reported Reporters sans Sajid Tanoli, a reporter with the regional Urdu-

Frontiers (RSF). language daily Shumal, , was stopped on a

highway, dragged from his car and shot several

Judge Mohammad Raza Khan sent the report on times, in the town of Mansehra, NWFP. Ali

his investigation into the Hayatullah Khan case Asghar, the journalist's brother, filed a report

to the authorities in Islamabad on 18 August, one with the Model Police Station accusing a local

month late. "I have done my job by handing in councillor, Javed Khan, of allegedly killing

this report," he told Reporters sans Frontiers. "It Tanoli for exposing his illegal business.

is now up to the government to publish it or not."

The judge interviewed many people, including 14/15: Mir Nawab and Allah Noor

Khan's family and a RSF representative. Despite February 7, 2005

requests by journalists' organisations, the Amir Nawab, also known as Mir Nawab, a

commission conducted all of its interviews freelance cameraman for Associated Press

without the press or public being present. The Television News and a reporter for the Frontier

governor of North-West Frontier Province Post newspaper and Allah Noor, working forannounced on 9 September that the team he had Peshawar-based Khyber TV, were shot by

ordered to investigate the Khan murder had also gunmen in Wana, South Waziristan on Februarythsubmitted its report to the government in 7 . The journalists were on their way back from

Islamabad. the town of Sararogha, where they were covering

the surrender of suspected tribal militant

Baitullah Mehsud. A car overtook the journalists'

12: Maqbool Hussain Siyal bus, and assailants opened fire with AK-47


18/22

assault rifles. opposition MQM and ANP.

16: Ilyas Nizzar (Motive unconfirmed) 20: Mujeebur Rehman Saddiqui (Motive

January 5, 2011 unconfirmed)

The body of Ilyas Nizzar, a reporter with the September 16, 2010

Baloch-language magazine Darwanth, was Mujeebur Rehman Saddiqui, a Dargai-basedth correspondent of Daily (Roznama) Pakistan,found on January 5 near the small town of

was shot by unidentified men as soon as he camePidrak, about 90 miles west of Karachi. He was

out of a mosque after prayers in the Khyberreportedly abducted on the night of Decemberth Pakhtoonkhwa on September 16th.28 , 2010, while travelling from Balochistan's

capital, Quetta, to his home in Turbat. It is not

21: Abdul Hameed Hayatan (Motiveclear whether Nizzar was killed because of his

unconfirmed)journalistic work.

November 18, 2010

Abdul Hameed Hayatan, popularly known as17: Abdost Rind (Motive unconfirmed)

Lala Hameed Baloch, reporter and photographerJanuary 18, 2011

of daily Karachi, Tawar, and Royal TV wasAbdost Rind, a reporter with Daily Eagle, wasth abducted from southwestern port city of Gwadarshot dead on February 18 by unidentified

on October 25 and his body was later found at aassailants in Turbat, Balochistan, He was

deserted place in Sami river of Turbat district ofreturning from work when people onth

Balochistan province on November 18 .motorcycles shot him four times where he died

immediately.

22: Sultan Mehmood Chandio (Motive

unconfirmed)18: Rehmatullah Shaheen (Motive

December 5, 2010unconfirmed)

Sultan Mehmood Chandio, president ofApril 1, 2011

Mirpurkhas Press Club and also associated withA bullet-riddled body of a Baloch journalist,

Sindhi TV channel Awaz, was shot dead outsideRehmatullah Shaheen, was recovered fromthhis house in Mirpurkhas, Sindh, on December 5 .Quetta after a month of kidnapping. On a tip-off,

Chandio in past received death threats andthe police recovered the body from Barech Town

informed the then DPO of Mirpurkhas.and moved it to Bolan Medical Complex Hospital

for autopsy. Hospital sources said Shaheen was

23: Raja Assad Hameed (Motiveshot in the head that resulted into instant death,

unconfirmed)as there were already some torture marks on his

March 16, 2009body.

Raja Assad Hameed, a senior reporter for the

daily Nation and Waqt TV Channel, was shot four19: Zaman Ibrahim (Motive unconfirmed)times by unidentified assailants as he arrived atApril 2, 2011

his home in Rawalpindi on March 26th. He diedZaman Ibrahim, crime reporter with vernacular

in hospital.Daily Extra News, was shot dead by two

motorcyclists in Karachi. Ibrahim was involved

with a local group called the People's Aman

Committee, which is the ruling PPP's militant

24: Amir Wakeel (Motive unconfirmed)counterpoint to the armed militias of the

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January 24, 2009

Unknown assailants gunned down a senior

journalist, Amir Wakeel, who was working as an

editor in a local daily 'Awami Inqalab' on January 27: Malik Muhammad Ismail (Motiveth unconfirmed)24 in Rawalpindi.

November 1, 2006

Malik Muhammad Ismail, editor of a national25: Khadim Sheikh (Motive unconfirmed)

news agency Pakistan Press International (PPI)April 24, 2008

Islamabad, was killed under mysteriousUnidentified people shot dead Khadim Sheikh,

circumstances and his body was found from thethe editor of local newspaper Hub News, and also

green belt of F-6/1, some 30 feet away fromworking as the bureau chief of a private TV

Shahid-e-Millat Road. Medical report confirmedchannel. Police said Khadim Sheikh was going to

that it was a case of target killing as he was hit byhis office on a motorbike on April 24th with his

blunt weapon like hammer. Islamabad.friend when two people on a bike opened fire on

them on Sakaran road in Quetta.

28: Ubaidullah Azhar (Motive

unconfirmed)

July 6, 2005

Ubaidullah Azhar, district correspondent of

Alakhbar, Din, Subh, and Online, by gunmen in

Daragai, a tribal town in the North West Frontierth .'

Provine (NWFP) on July 6

1: Nasrullah Afridi

Kalashnikovs, who shot him at point blank range

as he was distributing newspapers.

26: Nisar Ahmed Solangi (Motive

unconfirmed)

June 17, 2007

Nisar Ahmed Solangi who worked for a Sindhi

daily, was gunned down in Pir-jo-Goth in theth

interior of Sindh in Karachi on June 17 . He died

in a hail of nine bullets after he was ambushed by

six people on motorbikes and armed with

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May 11, 2011

Nasrullah Afridi, who was associated with PTV 6: Ejazul Haq

and the Urdu dailyMashriq, was killed on May May 28, 2010th Ijaz-ul-Haq, a satellite technician of Lahore11 when a remote-control device planted in his

based TV channel City 42, was among 94car exploded at Peshawar's Khyber Super

people killed in armed attacks on the Mosques ofMarket.

minority Ahmedi community in Garhi Shahu andth

2: Asfandyar Khan Model Town areas of Lahore on May 28 .

June 11, 2011

Asfandyar Khan, a reporter for the newspaper 7: Mohammad Sarwar (media worker)

Akhbar-e-Khyber, died in a double bombing on September 3, 2010th Mohammad Sarwar, Aaj TV media crew driver,June 11 that took the lives of more than three

was g shot dead in a gunfire that erupted after adozen people. The first, small blast went off at asuicide blast targeting the Al-Quds day rally in amarket, drawing a large crowd, including

rdjournalists such as Khan who were covering the marketplace in central Quetta on September 3 .

story.

8 : Ejaz Ahmed Raisani

3: Shafiullah Khan September 6, 2010

June 11, 2011 A news cameraman of Samaa TV, Ejaz Ahmed

Shafiullah Khan, a trainee reporter at the daily Raisani, was injured in an attack on Al-Quds day

The News, who got injured in a double bombing rally in a marketplace in central Quetta onth th

on June 11 , died six days later from extensive September 3 and died on September 6 .

burn injuries.

9: Abdul Wahab and Pervez Khan

4: Arif Malik December 6, 2010

April 16, 2010 Two reporters, Abdul Wahab of Express TV and

Arif Malik, a cameraman of Samaa news channel, Pervez Khan of Waqt TV, were killed in twinth suicide bombing in Mohmand Agency, FATAwas killed in an attack in Quetta on April 16

thwhen a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a while covering a peace jirga on December 6 .

hospital. The banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi claimed

the responsibility for the attack. 10: Muhammad Imran and Saleem Tahir

Awan

January 4, 2009

5: Azmat Ali Bangash Two journalists, Muhammad Imran, a trainee

April 17, 2010 cameraman with Express TVand Saleem Tahir

Azmat Ali Bangash,a reporter working for PTV, Awan, a freelance reporter for local newspapers

Samaa TV and APP news agency, was killed, Apna and Aitedal, killed in a suicide attack in

along with 41 other people when two suicide NWFP's southern district of Dera Ismail Khan onthbombers blew themselves up amidst a crowd of January 4 . They rushed to the spot after an

thdisplaced persons in Kohat on April 17 . initial gas cylinder explosion and died in

Other Killings

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subsequent suicide attack.

11:Wasi Ahmed

April 17, 2009

Wasi Ahmed, a newspaper reporter, was shot and

injured in violence in Balochistan in Khuzdar

district and later died in a Karachi hospital onth 17: Javed KhanApril 17 .

July 3, 2007

12: Siraj Uddin

February 29, 2008

Siraj Uddin, correspondent of an English

newspaper The Nation, was killed in a suicideth

blast in Mingora.on February 29 .

13: Abdul Aziz Shaheen

August 29, 2008

Abdul Aziz Shaheen, a local journalist working

for local dailies "Azadi "and "Khabarkar" in the

June 4, 2007troubled district of Swat in the NWFP, was

killed in an attack by jet fighters on a Talibanthhideout on August 29 , where he was being

held by the Taliban.

14: Muhammad Azam Khan

October 18, 2007December 2, 2008

Muhammad Azam Khan, who worked as a

cameraman for Channel-5 in Lahore and had

not been paid for four months, like all other

staff at the station, committed suicide on

December 2nd.

20:Munir Ahmed Sangi

May 23, 2006

Munir Ahmed Sangi, a cameraman for the

Sindhi-language KTN, was shot while covering

a gunfight between members of the Unar andAbro tribes in the town of Larkana, in Sindh on

thMay 29 .

June 2, 2007

Agency. Political Tehsildar along with tribal

elders and Dr. Noor Ul Hakeem, were returning

to Khar Headquarter of the agency after

attending a traditional tribal jirga when near

Daray Khawar, their vehicle hit an IED, planted

on roadside by terrorists.

Javed Khan, who worked for London-based

Urdu channel DM Digital, was killed in therd

crossfire at Lal Masjid in Islamabad on July 3 .

He was hit in the chest by a stray bullet. One

photojournalist, Javed Khan, who worked for

London-based Urdu channel DM Digital, was

killed in the crossfire at Lal Masjid. He was hit in

the chest by a stray bullet. Another journalist

18: Maulana Masud Mehmood

Maulana Masud Mehmood, a reporter of DailythIslam, was killed on July 4 while covering Lal

Masjid operation in Islamabad.

19: Muhammad Arif

Muhammad Arif, a cameraman of the private

"ARY One World" television channel was killed

in bomb blasts at the arrival of former Prime

Minister Benazir Bhutto to Karachi on Octoberth.

18

15: Mehboob Khan

April 27, 2007

A freelance photojournalist, Mehboob Khan, was

killed in a suicide attack in Peshawar on April

th27 .

16: Dr. Noor Ul Hakeem

Dr. Noor Ul Hakeem, vice president of the Tribal

Union of Journalists (TUJ), was killed when an

official vehicle was blown up by an Improvised

Explosive Device (IED) in Salarzai area of Bajaur

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Central Secretariat

Free Media Foundation

Email: [email protected]

Deadliest place to be a journalist.pdf

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