Pakistan has seen a significant rise in attacks against journalists in 2024, with six media professionals, including a YouTuber, killed, and a total of 57 violations recorded, as per Freedom Network’s latest Impunity Report. Released on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the report reveals that, despite protective laws like the Sindh Protection of Journalists Act and the federal Protection of Journalists Act, inadequate enforcement remains a critical issue.
Freedom Network’s Executive Director, Iqbal Khattak, emphasized that while these laws exist, they have not translated into improved safety for journalists. From November 2023 to August 2024, incidents were documented across Pakistan, with Sindh accounting for the highest number of violations (37%), followed by Punjab (23%), Islamabad (21%), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (12%), and Balochistan (3.5%). Television journalists faced the brunt of these attacks, with women journalists comprising 9% of the victims.
For the first time, the report introduces a “Media Impunity Index” to rank safety measures for journalists across Pakistan’s provinces and federal territories. Sindh emerged as the highest-scoring region, with Punjab lagging behind. Freedom Network has called on federal and provincial governments to urgently implement protections and end the culture of impunity for crimes against journalists in Pakistan.
