ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed deep concern over the ever-increasing danger of attacks on working journalists in Balochistan by extremists and religious bigots, and they are increasing by the day.
In a statement, the PFUJ Secretary General Ayub Jan Sarhandi said that it has been made extremely difficult for journalists in Baluchistan to perform their professional duties.
The PFUJ Secretary General said that a number of newspapers in the province have closed down as newspaper offices are being attacked regularly. He said that more than 18 press clubs have been locked up.
Journalists are doing their duty under grave threats and attacks from threats and attacks by different groups and as such suffer from lack of security,” he said.
“We are of the view that such unannounced restrictions on journalists in Balochistan have inflicted immense loss on the freedom of press,” he said adding that the number of journalists who laid down their lives in the line of duty is the highest in Balochistan.
Ayub Jan Sarhandi said that the most regrettable part is that no murderer has to date been arrested nor the investigations in any case proved fruitful.
The Secretary General said that PFUJ believes that the government has failed to protect journalists and they have been left alone and unguarded in Balochistan. If the state itself is unable to provide protection to journalists, we have nowhere to go, he said.
“The situation is unacceptable for PFUJ,” said. “We demand that government must wake up and take immediate notice of the situation in Balochistan and provide security to journalists.”
“If this goes unnoticed, PFUJ will not hesitate to take extreme step. We are solidly with the journalists of Balochistan,” Ayub Jan Sarhandi said.
The PJUJ Secretary General said that a high-level meeting of PFUJ will take stock of the situation and mull over next line of action. He added that an announcement in this regard will be made soon.
