In the first half of 2024, Pakistan saw an unprecedented number of journalist deaths, with seven reporters killed. Khalil Jibran, the latest victim and a former president of a local press club in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was ambushed and shot in June.
Adil Jawad, from an organization investigating journalist murders, mentioned that at least four of these cases, involving both traditional and citizen journalists, were likely work-related. These deaths primarily occurred in smaller towns and cities, where social media has significantly boosted the visibility of professional journalists and citizen reporters.
Jawad highlighted the “widespread impunity” for those attacking journalists. The Freedom Network reported that between 2012 and 2022, 53 journalists were killed for their work, but only two cases resulted in convictions. Citizen journalism has surged in Pakistan, driven by social media and restrictions on mainstream media. Ordinary people have started covering issues like the deteriorating law and order situation and corruption among the elite.
In late May, Nasrullah Gadani, a journalist known for his critical reporting on local politicians and feudal lords, was murdered in Sindh province’s Badin district, sparking protests. His brother accused local MP Khalid Lund of orchestrating the murder, which Lund denied. Three days before Gadani’s death, another journalist, Kamran Dawar, was killed in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Following these incidents, Anthony Bellanger, General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, emphasized that Pakistani journalists have a constitutional right to freedom of expression, which is undermined by these targeted attacks. He urged authorities to ensure media freedom and conduct immediate, thorough, and transparent investigations into these killings.
Pakistan fell two places to 152 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, which cited the country as one of the most dangerous for journalists, with frequent, unpunished murders often linked to corruption or illegal activities.
