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IFJ-PFUJ Pakistan Mission Report
The abduction and beheading
of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002 provided a horrific
snapshot to the world of the dangers journalists face whilst reporting
in Pakistan. However, while Pearl's death made international headlines,
Pakistani journalists face the harrows of life and death everyday barely
noticed.
To address the sickening crisis facing the Pakistan media, the
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate, the
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), have released A State of
Denial: The Crisis of Press Freedom and Journalist Safety in Pakistan.
This report contains the findings from a joint international media
mission from February 22 to 25, 2007. Representatives of the IFJ, the
PFUJ, the National Union of Journalists of UK and Ireland, Reporters
Sans Frontiers (RSF), the International News Safety Institute (INSI) and
an editor from the Indian media, visited Pakistan as part of a joint
mission to investigate the crisis facing the media.
"From the mission's findings, we are calling for immediate local and
international action to address this terrible crisis," said IFJ
president Christopher Warren.
"Reporting in Pakistan is now more dangerous than ever."
"Urgent action is essential to overturn the dangerous climate for
journalists and to uphold press freedom and the freedom of expression in
the country,"
Findings from the report reveal the increasing horror faced by Pakistani
journalists, in which media restrictions, government intervention, low
wages, and even violence and murder are strangling press freedom.
Nineteen journalists are believed to have been killed since 2000, with
four murdered in the last year. And not only journalists, but also their
families are paying an untenable price for press freedom, with two cases
of the brothers of journalists murdered to send a harrowing message.
A lack of justice is creating a dangerous culture of impunity. Of the 19
cases, only Pearl's murderers have been convicted.
"Urgent action including finding and convicting these journalist
killers, implementing the legally binding wage board decisions, and the
development of a culture of safety and security for journalists are
imperative to uphold the IFJ motto: There can be no press freedom if
journalists exist in conditions of corruption, poverty or fear," said
Warren.
"Journalists, through their collective, the PFUJ, have been leading a
brave struggle against impossible odds," Warren said.
"Not only are Pakistani journalists threatened by terrorists and rebel
militants, but also those who ought to be protecting them: their own
Government and media companies."
Recommendations released in
the report include:
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Immediate provision of
essential safety items such as bullet-proof jackets and war
insurance to journalists by the Pakistan Government and media
employers as well as professional training for safety and conflict
reporting.
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Wage increases to be
honoured in line with the legal wage board process, and labour law
reform in Pakistan, particularly ensuring media employers issue
proper contracts of employment to journalists as far too many have
been exploited and abused in its absence.
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The international
community of media workers to recognise and assist the PFUJ in their
efforts to protect the independence and security of journalism in
Pakistan. This includes financial and practical support, monitoring
media rights violations, and international pressure for authorities
and employers to respect the rights of Pakistan journalists.
For the
full report visit
www.ifj-asia.org. or
Click here.
For more
information contact:
Christopher Warren
President, International Federation of Journalists
Tel: +61 411 757 668
Chris
Morley
President, National Union of Journalists (UK and Ireland)
Tel: +44 121 234 5286
Iqbal
Khattak
Bureau Chief (Peshawar), Daily Times (Pakistan)
Tel: + 92 91 526 1490
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0919
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 115 countries.
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