Tag: SADAF NAEEM

  • 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.

  • Maryam Nawaz calls IK’s long march ‘part-time march’

    Maryam Nawaz calls IK’s long march ‘part-time march’

    Maryam Nawaz, Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), took a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s ongoing long march, calling it a “part-time march”.

    “It should be called a part-time long march because he leaves his abode in Lahore after eating lunch and goes out for two or three hours to come back in time for his evening tea. After every 10 miles, he comes back to Lahore,” said the PML-N leader, addressing a press conference in London.

    The PML-N leader said the “part-time” march ends within two hours of starting, and it is still stuck in Lahore despite the passage of five days since it’s commencement. “And now, we are hearing reports that it will take eight to ten more days to reach Islamabad,” she said.

    The daughter of PML-N head, Nawaz Sharif, said that no institution was supporting Imran Khan’s march, however, she said that one or two individuals could be behind it.

    She further alleged that Khan is still searching for people in the establishment who will continue to support him but said that the nation was aware of this. “Your lies are unravelling and your time has ended”, she said, addressing Khan.

    ‘A precious life was lost’: Maryam about deceased journalist Sadaf Naeem

    Maryam sent condolences to the family of deceased journalist Sadaf Naeem who was crushed to death under Imran Khan’s container on October 30.

    Offering condolences. Maryam Nawaz said that the incident forced her to think about the purpose of PTI’s long march.

    “A precious life was lost. A mother of young children passed away while covering the long march. It forced me to ponder over the purpose of the long march,” she said.

    ‘Major scandal’: Maryam Nawaz about Khan’s Toshakhana case

    Regarding the Toshakhana reference, Maryam alleged that another “major scandal” related to the issue is soon coming to light.

    According to her, a British multinational jeweller, Graff, had gifted a diamond set that Imran had paid “Rs20 million for and sold in Dubai for Rs220m”.

    Maryam further said that in total, Khan had looted up to Rs. 50 million from the Toshakhana, which is the property of the nation.

  • Husband of reporter killed in PTI long march gives up pursuing legal action, Govt alleges husband pressurised to give statement

    Husband of reporter killed in PTI long march gives up pursuing legal action, Govt alleges husband pressurised to give statement

    Sadaf Naeem, a reporter with Channel Five, died on Sunday in an unfortunate accident near Sadhoke while reporting on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march.

    The late reporter’s husband has decided not to pursue “any kind of legal action”, according to a statement submitted to the police on Sunday night.

    “When the long march […] started to move gradually, my wife — who was standing on the divider — fell and was trapped beneath the container and died on the spot,” her husband stated.

    “This was an accident,” he added, further saying that he did not want to take any legal action, “nor do I want to get a postmortem examination conducted”.

    He requested that “The dead body be handed over to us immediately so that the burial can be done in a timely manner.”

    However, Railway Minister, Khawaja Saad Rafique, shared a video purportedly showing Naeem’s husband signing his statement in the presence of PTI leaders including Aslam Iqbal.

    Rafique alleged that the deceased reporter’s husband was “surrounded” by PTI members to make him sign the statement.

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that Naeem’s fellow journalists were alleging that she was “pushed”.

    He called for the “person who pushed her” to be arrested as “after this witness account, it was necessary that investigations of the incident are carried out.”