Tag: nazim jokhio

  • Pakistan fails to ensure safety of journalists

    Pakistan fails to ensure safety of journalists

    As the world marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, Pakistan’s journalistic community continues to grapple with an alarming surge in violence and impunity.

    Several reports have highlighted the deteriorating situation, shedding light on the challenges faced by media professionals in the South Asian nation.

    According to the recently released annual report by the Islamabad-based independent media watchdog, Freedom Network, Pakistan has failed to combat the rising impunity of crimes against journalists, painting a grim picture of the state of press freedom in the country.

    The report titled ‘One Step Forward, Two Steps Back,’ outlines the harrowing experiences faced by journalists, including incidents of kidnapping, physical assaults, and unjust legal cases.

    Pakistan made history in 2021 by passing two special laws to protect journalists.

    The Sindh Assembly passed the “Sindh Protection of Journalists and other Media Practitioners Act-2021” while the National Assembly passed “Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act-2021” in space of few months.

    Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab have not passed a similar law for their jurisdictions.

    According to the Freedom Network’s report at least 37.5 percent of the violations in Pakistan – 93 out of the total 248 cases in the period between August 2021- August 2023 – were recorded in Islamabad alone.

    The report further states that during this period there were 11 cases of murders of journalists, plus another 20 unsuccessful assassination attempts.

    25 instances of legal cases registered against journalists.


    11 cases of abductions, plus another case of an unsuccessful kidnapping attempt.

    25 cases of arrests, detentions, or illegal confinements of journalists by the State.

    59 cases of physical assaults, 26 of which caused bodily injuries.

    05 cases of attacks on the homes of journalists.

    30 cases of specific threats of murder or other dire consequences issued to journalists.

    59 cases of harassment of journalists.

    At least 37.5% of the violations (93 out of a total 248 cases) were recorded in the federal capital Islamabad alone.

    Sindh was the second worst with 22.5% of the violations (56 cases) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was a close third at 18.5% (46 cases).

    These were followed by Punjab with 17.3% (43 cases), Balochistan with about 2.5% (6 cases), Azad Kashmir (AJK) with 1.2% (3 cases) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) with 0.5% (1 case).

    The report also cited specific incidents, such as the tragic death of Channel 5 reporter Sadaf Naeem during the coverage of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s rally in Punjab in October 2022.

    The report notes that another Pakistani journalist Ashad Sharif was killed in Kenya on October 23, 2022, and there is still no clarity on his murder.

    Pakistan Press Foundation has also documented at least 157 media-related attacks, including 16 instances of arrests, five instances of detention, and 44 cases of assault this year.

    Between January and September 2023, PPF has documented at least 157 attacks on the media in connection with their work, including 16 instances of arrests and five instances of detention, 44 cases of assault, two cases of damage to property, four instances of raids, 18 instances of registration of cases against media professionals and two instances of legal action, 26 instances of censorship, 20 instances of harassment of journalists or media practitioners, 13 cases of threats, seven confirmed cases of kidnappings and three unconfirmed cases.

    While the country witnessed an improvement in its ranking in the World Press Freedom Index, climbing from 157 in 2021 to 150 in 2023, this progress is overshadowed by the failure to effectively implement the laws designed to protect journalists.

  • Nazim Jokhio’s family reaches peace agreement with accused

    Nazim Jokhio’s family reaches peace agreement with accused

    Nazim Jokhio’s family has submitted an affidavit in court, stating that they have reached a peace agreement with the murder accused.

    The affidavit has stated that both parties have reached an agreement. It has also been stated in the affidavit that the slain man’s family has no objection to ending the case.

    The affidavit has been submitted by Jokhio’s mother, widow, and children. After the affidavit, the court directed authorities to publish an advertisement in the newspaper regarding the legal heirs of Nazim Jokhio.

    The court has also asked National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to submit a report on the matter at the next hearing. The hearing was adjourned till October 15th.

    On November 3 last year, Nazim’s tortured body was found in Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Jam Awais’ farmhouse in Karachi’s Malir area, a day after he filmed a group of foreigners hunting the endangered houbara bustard in his Achar Salaar village in Thatta.

    According to Jokhio’s brother, Nazim had broadcast a live stream on social media of a hunting expedition involving foreign guests of PPP MPA Jam Awais, after which Jam Awais called Nazim to the house where he was allegedly murdered.

    Jam Karim is the elder brother of Jam Awais. In November, he was nominated as a suspect with ten others in the murder case.

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  • Court extends bail of MNA Jam Abdul Karim in Jokhio murder case

    Court extends bail of MNA Jam Abdul Karim in Jokhio murder case

    The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday extended interim bail of MNA Jam Abdul Karim until April 14 in the Nazim Jokhio murder case.

    The counsel for MNA Jam Abdul Karim submitted an application in the court, seeking his client’s exemption from the hearing. “Mr Abdul Karim will appear in the court on next hearing after casting vote in the election for new prime minister,” the lawyer informed the court. During hearing, Justice Umar Sial questioned how the court could exempt him from the hearing. “Why the challan has not been submitted in the Anti-Terrorism Court,” the court questioned the lawyer. To which, the investigation officer informed the court that challan of the case was finalized and subsequently submitted to the office of the Public Prosecutor General. However, it was stopped due to objections raised by the office .

    The bench extended bail of Jam Abdul Karim and other accused till April 14.

    It is to be recalled that the accused MNA reached Pakistan last month after the Sindh High Court granted him protective bail against a surety bond of Rs100,000.

    On November 3, last year, Nazim’s tortured body was found in PPP MPA Jam Awais’ farmhouse in Karachi’s Malir area, a day after he filmed a group of foreigners hunting the endangered houbara bustard in his Achar Salaar village in Thatta. According to Nazim Jokhio’s brother, Nazim had broadcast a live stream on social media of a hunting expedition involving foreign guests of PPP MPA Jam Awais, after which Jam Awais called Nazim to the house where he was allegedly murdered.

  • MNA Jam Karim, allegedly involved in Nazim Jokhio murder comes back to cast vote against PM

    MNA Jam Karim, allegedly involved in Nazim Jokhio murder comes back to cast vote against PM

    Pakistan People’s Party MNA Jam Abdul Karim, nominated for the murder of Journalist Nazim Jokhio, has reached Pakistan. His name was placed on the Provisional National Identity List (PNIL). However,  Sindh High Court granted him protective bail against a surety bond of Rs100,000.

    On November 3 last year, Nazim’s tortured body was found in PPP MPA Jam Awais’ farmhouse in Karachi’s Malir area, a day after he filmed a group of foreigners hunting the endangered houbara bustard in his Achar Salaar village in Thatta. According to Nazim Jokhio’s brother, Nazim had broadcast a live stream on social media of a hunting expedition involving foreign guests of PPP MPA Jam Awais, after which Jam Awais called Nazim to the house where he was allegedly murdered.

    Jam Karim is the elder brother of Jam Awais. In November, he was nominated as a suspect with ten others in the murder case.

    The victim’s widow, Shiren Jokhio has pardoned the accused involved in the murder of her husband. In a video statement that was released on Wednesday, she said that she had left the decision at the mercy of Almighty Allah. She added that she has taken the decision for the sake of the safety of her children.

    Many think that the video statement was forced and Nazim’s widow was made to drop the case, a case she had been pursuing for six months.

    Muhammad Jibran Nasir, lawyer and social activist took to Twitter and wrote: “Congratulations to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and to all your jiyalas and supporters your governance has successfully managed to submit a poor widow to a compromise with your MNA Jam Karim and MPA Jam Awais the murderers of her husband Nazim Jokhio after 6 months of resistance.”

    PPP leader are yet to comment on the matter. Social media users are expressing their anger over the matter:

    https://twitter.com/JiyaEss/status/1509425830237294594