According to a recent report, the year 2024 has turned out to be one of the deadliest years for journalists in Pakistan, with six professional journalists and one YouTuber being targeted.
According to the latest report of 2024 by Freedom Network, an activist organization for media rights in Pakistan, 57 violations were recorded against people associated with journalism.
The provinces have not taken specific measures to prevent crimes against the media and its professionals and to ensure that justice is provided to them.
The report also notes that federal and Sindh provincial laws designed to protect media professionals have failed to ensure the prevention of these crimes.
The annual report presents alarming figures – 11 assassination attempts were recorded between November 2023 and August 2024, including the killing of five journalists and one digital media professional.
At least 57 violations, including threats, assaults, and legal harassment, were also recorded during the reporting period.
Launching a special report on the occasion of the International Day for Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, which is celebrated worldwide on November 2, including in Pakistan, Freedom Network Executive Director Iqbal Khattak said that ‘Sindh Protection of Journalists and Despite the enactment of the Media Professionals Bill 2021 and the Federal Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act 2021, the federal and Sindh governments have failed to implement these laws, leaving journalists at risk without legal protection.
According to the report, Sindh was the province where the highest number of violations were recorded in the year under review, accounting for 37 percent or 21 out of 57 cases (including three murders).
It is followed by Punjab where 23% of violations (13 incidents) were recorded.
Islamabad was the third most dangerous area for journalism this year with 21 percent of violations (12 cases).
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stood fourth with 12 percent (seven incidents including the killing of two tribal journalists) of violations recorded.
While 3.5 percent of violations (two incidents) were recorded in Balochistan.
TV journalists suffered the most incidents – a total of 30 incidents accounting for 53 percent, while print media incidents accounted for 35 percent.
Digital journalists faced 10 percent and radio journalists 2 percent of various threats.
Among the journalists who faced these threats, nine percent were female journalists.
The report also identifies the threat actors who were allegedly involved in these incidents.
These include government institutions (47 percent), political parties (12 percent), and various identified elements (16 percent). The number of unknown elements was 25 percent.
The report states that the federal government’s delay in setting up a statutory safety commission for journalists is in stark contrast to its earlier promises.
While the Sindh Commission for the Protection of Journalists is inactive despite the notification being issued.
According to the Freedom Network report, several such incidents took place during 2024
When various courts, including District Courts, High Courts, and the Supreme Court, raised their voices to protect journalists involved in various crimes, often involving state officials.
Deadliest Years For Journalists
 of violations recorded){kind=link}