Daily Times

Threats against journalists in Pakistan are on the rise; it is deeply troubling. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the vicious online trolling campaign targeting senior journalists like Syed Talat Hussain, Hassan Ayub, Muneeb Farooq and Muzamil Hussain Shah.

PFUJ has called for urgent government action to ensure the safety of journalists as alarming open threats of elimination against journalists demand immediate intervention by federal and provincial authorities. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been urged to identify and prosecute those behind these campaigns.

The problem has a gender side too. Women journalists face even harsher attacks, including relentless online harassment, misogynistic abuse and threats to their lives and families. Digital Rights Foundation reported in its 2023 report that 60 percent of women journalists in Pakistan face online harassment, often orchestrated by political operatives. Such toxic environments hinder women from fully participating in journalism and public discourse.

Abusing and killing journalists is a dangerous trend. In the last two decades, over 140 journalists have been killed in Pakistan, with many cases still unresolved. 2022 alone saw four journalists killed and several attacked, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The culture of impunity emboldens perpetrators, leaving journalists vulnerable to violence.

Adding to the problem is the misuse of draconian laws in the name of defamation. Journalists are routinely silenced through cybercrime laws and defamation cases, with vague and broad interpretations weaponised against dissenting voices. Instead of protecting reputations, these laws are stifling free speech, a cornerstone of democracy.

Political parties also bear responsibility. The PFUJ has urged political leaders to respect freedom of expression and dissent. Trolling and targeting media professionals only shows intolerance and undermines democratic norms. *