End impunity now

Each year, November 2 – marked as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists – serves as a global reminder of the growing dangers faced by journalists who pursue truth despite the risks. In Pakistan, the peril is acute, as recent reports reveal an alarming surge in violence, intimidation, and targeted killings of journalists. Islamabad-based media watchdog Freedom Network’s 2024 Impunity Report exposes a bleak reality: with six journalists killed and 57 violations recorded this year, Pakistan remains a dangerous place for media practitioners. Beyond these grim statistics lies a broader crisis – a culture of impunity that allows perpetrators to act without fear of punishment, eroding both press freedom and the public’s access to truth. This year, Freedom Network launched Pakistan’s first Media Impunity Index, an essential yet sobering tool that evaluates federal and provincial governments’ efforts to protect journalists and hold perpetrators accountable. The findings highlight regional disparities: Sindh ranks highest on this index, followed by Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. While the Sindh and federal governments have taken steps by enacting laws to safeguard journalists, these protections remain largely unimplemented due to the absence of safety commissions tasked with overseeing their enforcement. This failure not only undermines legislative intent but leaves journalists vulnerable to threats from state actors, political groups, and other powerful entities.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) paints an equally grim picture globally, ranking Pakistan 12th out of the 13 worst countries for journalist safety. In Pakistan, 39 journalists have been murdered since 1992, with justice remaining elusive in most cases. The CPJ’s report emphasises that murder remains the ‘ultimate weapon’ to silence journalists. Around the world, targeted killings of media practitioners have become disturbingly frequent, sending a clear message: those who challenge powerful interests may pay the ultimate price. For journalists in Pakistan, the dangers come not only from state actors but also from criminal gangs, militant groups, and political operatives. Freedom Network’s report finds that 47 per cent of violations were linked to government authorities, with political parties accounting for another 12 per cent. The remaining cases involved other actors, including criminal networks and unknown assailants. Alarmingly, television journalists bear the brunt of these threats, followed by those in print, digital, and radio media, while women journalists continue to be subjected to both gendered harassment and threats to their safety.

The divisive environment within Pakistan’s media landscape also complicates efforts to address these threats. Deeply entrenched political and ideological rifts have led to an erosion of solidarity within the journalist community itself. In some cases, journalists have actively targeted their peers, launching malicious campaigns that endanger lives and damage the credibility of the profession. This internal discord weakens the media’s collective power, diluting efforts to hold authorities accountable for attacks on journalists and hindering any real progress toward improving press freedom. Despite these grave challenges, there are glimmers of hope. Several legal mechanisms, such as the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, exist to shield media practitioners from harm. Yet these measures remain largely symbolic without the necessary political will and institutional infrastructure to enforce them. The dismal scores of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan on the Media Impunity Index reflect this lack of accountability and resources, which are crucial for any meaningful change.

The problem of impunity is not confined to Pakistan; it is a global issue, particularly evident in conflict zones. CPJ’s Global Impunity Index identifies Israel as one of the top offenders, with a record number of Palestinian journalists killed during the current war. This grim trend of violence and intimidation sends a chilling message to journalists everywhere: if you persist in exposing uncomfortable truths, you may pay for it with your life. To dismantle this web of violence, silence, and inaction, governments must treat attacks on journalists as attacks on democracy itself. The Pakistani government, along with provincial authorities, should take concrete steps to bring perpetrators to justice. Enforcement of existing laws, establishment of safety commissions, and legal and financial support for the families of slain journalists are crucial steps that cannot be delayed any longer. When journalists are silenced, the public’s right to know is compromised, and governments lose a critical check on their power. In the absence of robust protections, journalists are forced into self-censorship, curtailing the free flow of information that is vital for informed citizenry and meaningful public discourse. Let one message ring loud and clear for all: journalism is not a crime – censoring it and targeting it is.