While the high-profile cases of Western journalists’ killings and kidnapping gain media attention (such as of Daniel Pearl or Marie Colvin), violence against journalists working in conflict areas and non-democratic regions have grown worse. The impunity for a crime against journalists gives an explicit message that silencing journalists is acceptable. The case of Pakistan is complicated once analyzing the threats to journalists’ safety. The existing climate of impunity in Pakistan can also pose a threat to journalists’ freedom– especially for adhering to the principles of truthfulness and accuracy. Nevertheless, given the diversity of threats faced by the Pakistani journalists and its adverse effects on their professionalism, there is an urgent need to have a safety mechanism that not only serves to enhance journalists’ safety level, but also counters the issues of delayed justice.

Source: Pakistan Today July 17, 2019 17:03 UTC