We, along with the rest of Pakistan’s media,welcome the news that local reporter Zeenat Shahzadi has been ‘returned’ to her family in Lahore, as suddenly as she ‘disappeared’ some two years ago. She is said to have been recovered from along the Af-Pak border area; possibly held across the other side by the Afghan Taliban; with tribal elders from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as Pakistani intelligence agencies, playing a prominent role in her recovery. This is about as much as any of us know right now. The family most likely wants to be left alone at this time; and even if they haven’t said as much we, the media, should respect this. There is a difference between investigation and intrusiveness. And we would do well to remember which is which at this time. Zeenat’s case straddles two important spheres that pose risks to ordinary Pakistanis: missing persons and journalist safety. Yet first and foremost Zeenat is a journalist. And it was her investigation into what had happened to an Indian gentleman who had crossed over the border illegally to prevent his Pakistani paramour from marrying someone else that led to her abduction. He was reportedly picked up and charged with espionage. Zeenat was said to have been approached by members of the security apparatus, who told her in no uncertain terms to back off. She didn’t. This raises several questions. The first being, who picked up this young woman and why? Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have long included our agencies in its list of ‘press predators’. If she was kidnapped by a militant group, then surely a ransom demand of some kind would have been made. Or maybe not. Maybe even terror groups understand how cheap we and the rest of the world consider Pakistani lives. But it is important that we know so we can at once raise the cry for accountability. In the meanwhile, this incident once again throws under the spotlight the question of journalist safety. Naturally, this is the state’s responsibility as part of the social contract. Yet we have said it before and we say it again: editors need to share the burden, especially when it comes to women reporters. The ‘field’ is not safe and that’s a reality that needs to be acknowledged by media outlets. Pakistan may have crawled up another 8 places on the RSF World Press Freedom Index 2017 — we now enjoy a ranking of 139 out of 180 nations — but it doesn’t mean that it’s a safe place to practice journalism. As for the new NAB chief’s assertions that Zeenat was picked up by non-state actors and enemy agencies — this sounds all fine and dandy but we still need proof to precipitate the accountability process. To speed things along he could, perhaps, call upon one of our recently ‘reformed assets’ to spill any remaining beans. It’s just a thought. * Published in Daily Times, October 22nd 2017.