Nov 2: Int’l Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists

Lahore: The day for the elimination of crimes against journalists is being celebrated all over the world, including Pakistan on Saturday.

A journalist who raises the voice for the rights of every class is considered the eyes and ears of society. He performs his duties in very difficult and dangerous situations, tolerates violence, and accepts enmities, but often criminals involved in crimes against journalists are not brought to justice.

The objective of the United Nations to observe this day every year is to remember the journalists who were killed or suffered because of telling the truth to the people.

To say that a law has been made to protect journalists in Pakistan, however, despite this, the statistics of crimes against journalists are alarmingly high.

Pakistan is still among the countries that are dangerous for journalists. 150 journalists were killed in Pakistan from the year 2000 to 2022, while only two suspects were convicted.

Freedom Network, a Non-Government Organisation working to protect journalists, has named 2024 as the deadliest year for journalists working in Pakistan, with six journalists killed and 11 assassinated this year.

According to the organization's report, despite the legislation for the protection of journalists at the federal and provincial levels, the governments have not been able to fully implement these laws and journalists consider themselves unsafe.

According to another report, 57 incidents against journalists were recorded between November 2023 and August 2024, out of which 21 were reported in Sindh, 13 in Punjab, 12 in Islamabad, seven in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two in Balochistan.