Conference on the safety of journalists, Pakistan. Photo: PIPS

Pakistan is one of the world´s most dangerous places to work as a journalist. In the past ten years, 76 journalists have been killed, but in only one case have the perpetrators been brought to justice. Now, for the first time, Pakistani authorities have promissed to look into the killings

By Nina Julie Hjelmgren, Jeppe Matzen and Ranga Kalansooriya, IMS

Journalists in Pakistan face challenges on a daily basis that most journalists around the world never do. Little, if anything, has been done to address the problem by the Pakistani authorities.

A track record of impunity

Of 76 killings of journalists, only one case has led to legal action, namely the killing of Wall Street Journal's reporter Daniel Pearl. The remaining 75 killings of Pakistani journalists have so far been unresolved.

Now, this track record of impunity could be challenged thanks to a conference on safety organised by Intermedia Pakistan, Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) with the backing of International Media Support.

Authorities commit to action

The conference, "Keeping Journalists and Journalism Safe in Hostile Environments" held in Islamabad from 12-13 December, brought the issue of safety for journalists and impunity to the attention of the authorities. As a result Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik promised in front of a large media gathering to form a commission that will look into the unresolved cases.

- This is a significant step. It is the first time that authorities have recognised the number of 75 killings as a fact, and it is the first time that a minister has promised to do something about it. We hope that this is the beginning of a constructive dialogue with the authorities on the matter of impunity, says Adnan Rehmat, Director of Intermedia Pakistan.

Journalists on the frontline

The safety of journalists in Pakistan has deteriorated since the country became a frontline state in the War on Terror in 2001. Violence has swept through the border regions of Afghanistan with the increase of Pakistani Talibans, Al Qaeda and other armed groups, who are engaged in a prolonged conflict with the Pakistani military. Journalists are being harassed, threatened, beaten, arrested, kidnapped, tortured and killed. According to Reporters without Borders, ten journalists have been killed in 2011 (by Dec 14) in Pakistan.

Main threats to safety

The main threats to their safety highlighted by journalists themselves in the regions of FATA (Federally Administrated Tribal Areas) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are:

1. Non-state actors and armed groups

2. State authorities such as security forces, agencies and political administrations

3. Drug traffickers and smugglers

4. Reporting tribal disputes etc

5. Threats from warring parties who want to control information or report an incident in a way that favours them.

6. The Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR)

7. Abduction and intimidation by state and non-state actors

8. Bomb blasts

9. Target killings by state and non-state actors etc

These revealing results were presented in "Practicing safe journalism in conflict conditions" produced by Intermedia in December 2011. The FATA region is still governed with limitations dating back to early 20^th century, not giving people here the same rights as in the rest of the country. Here, people are not guaranteed access to information as enshrined in the constitution.

Baluch press in stress

The situation is incomparably difficult for journalists trying to work in the southwestern region of Baluchistan. Here, resistance groups, insurgents and underground separatist groups fight against each other and Pakistani security and armed forces making the environment unpredictable and hostile.

Different political parties have also exhibited threatening behaviour towards journalists they disapprove of. In the last four years 14 journalists have been killed in Baluchistan alone according to the report "Press in Stress - Media under threat in Baluchistan". The report was the result of a mission to the Baluchistan led by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists . With remarks like "these incidents can happen anywhere in the world" by a government official at the conference, it was obvious that the Pakistani authorities may not have grasped the gravity of the situation. Since the report was published in October 2011, yet another body of a tortured and killed journalist has been found in Baluchistan.

Need for international cooperation on safety

During the two-day conference, journalists from all over Pakistan and also Afghanistan shared their insights. It was an obvious comfort for them to listen to visiting colleagues from Sri Lanka talk about the period of time after armed conflict. Sharing experiences across borders has emphasised the need for cooperation on safety matters.  

Ambassadors from Denmark and Norway also expressed their support for the improved safety of Pakistani media, highlighting the need for a free media to ensure a democratic and prosperous Pakistan. With elections coming up in a year, journalists have reason to worry about threats, bribes, violence and bombs.

Safety training a step on the way

One of the ways in which the safety issue can be addressed immediately is by providing safety training for the journalists themselves, ensuring that they take the necessary precautions and know their rights. With the support of IMS, Intermedia with the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists plan to conduct training courses all over Pakistan in 2012 to keep journalists safe.