Pakistan has witnessed a deadly surge in attacks against journalists in 2024, with six media workers including a YouTuber killed, and a total of 57 violations recorded, according to Freedom Network’s latest Impunity Report.
Released on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the report highlights that despite the enactment of protective laws in Sindh and at the federal level, implementation remains a major concern.
Freedom Network’s Executive Director Iqbal Khattak stated that while laws like the Sindh Protection of Journalists Act and the federal Protection of Journalists Act exist, they’ve had little impact on ensuring journalists’ safety.
From November 2023 to August 2024, incidents were recorded nationwide, with Sindh leading in reported violations (37%), followed by Punjab (23%), Islamabad (21%), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (12%), and Balochistan (3.5%). Television journalists were the primary targets, bearing over half of the violations, with female journalists accounting for 9%.
The report introduces the country’s first-ever “Media Impunity Index” ranking Pakistan’s provinces and federal regions on safety measures for journalists, with Sindh scoring highest and Punjab lagging behind.
Freedom Network has called for immediate action, urging the federal and provincial governments to actively enforce protections and end the climate of impunity surrounding crimes against journalists in Pakistan.