Imtiaz Alam under life threat from militants
Islamabad: Imtiaz Alam is under life threat from militants. After lethal attack on television anchor and journalists Raza Rumi that resulted murder of his driver, militants have sent serious life threat to one of the most senior writer, journalist and television anchor of Pakistan, Mr. Imtiaz Alam.
Imtiaz Alam is also an icon of peace through media in South Asia leading South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA). Pakistan is a volatile land for journalists and Imtiaz Alam has been on the list of militants since long for his resolve and outspoken behavior for the tolerance of narrative of freedom of press. Attacks on media workers and groups have been since the day government of Pakistan is negotiating a peace plan with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Security of journalists right of expression of freedom are not on the agenda of negotiations and talks.
When contacted by Dispatch News Desk Wire News Agency, Imtiaz Alam was of the view that state of Pakistan should exhibit its writ against militants even while dealing a truce and negotiating by ensuring right of freedom of expression.
Meanwhile entire media associations including All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), South Asia Media Commission (SAMC) and South Asian Women in Media (SAWM), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ), Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ), Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), the National Press Club, the Lahore Press Club, the Karachi Press Club, the Peshawar Press Club, and the Quetta Press Club have expressed deepest concern at the reports of death threats given to Mr Imtiaz Alam, Editor of quarterly South Asian Journal and Secretary General of South Asian Free Media Association.
A resolution was passed as following text:
Text of the Resolution
We, the journalists and representatives of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), South Asia Media Commission (SAMC) and South Asian Women in Media (SAWM), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ), Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ), Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), the National Press Club, the Lahore Press Club, the Karachi Press Club, the Peshawar Press Club, and the Quetta Press Club express our deepest concern at the reports of death threats given to Mr Imtiaz Alam, Editor of quarterly South Asian Journal and Secretary General of South Asian Free Media Association.
Intolerance for diverse points of views has a bearing on media freedom and quality journalism. But edicts and threats continue to be hurled at the media and media persons, among them Mr Alam, who also anchors a talk show on Express News TV.
The targeted attacks and death threats are meant to create fear among the democratic intelligentsia and the media persons. It is more disturbing that the state is failing in its responsibility to protect citizens and its writ.
Despite UN Security Council Resolution 1738 on the safety of journalists and several international resolutions on the protection of journalists, lives continue to have been lost in Pakistan in the course of journalists doing their jobs. Last year 10 journalists have been killed in connection with their work in Pakistan. Courtesy these killings, Pakistan has made it to the shameful club of the world’s five deadliest countries for the media.
We urge the media associations to take joint stand on acts of violation of and threats to media rights and freedom of expression. Attack on one should be taken as an attack on all.
It’s time that the state and the government of Pakistan fulfilled their responsibility to their citizens protecting their fundamental rights of freedom of information and freedom of expression guaranteed in the Constitution.
List of journalists killed in Pakistan:
54 Journalists Killed in Pakistan/Motive Confirmed
Shan Dahar, Abb Takk Television
January 1, 2014, in Larkana, Pakistan
Ayub Khattak, Karak Times
October 11, 2013, in Karak District, Pakistan
Aslam Durrani, Daily Pakistan
April 16, 2013, in Peshawar, Pakistan
Mirza Iqbal Hussain, News Network International
January 10, 2013, in Quetta, Pakistan
Saif ur Rehman, Samaa TV
January 10, 2013, in Quetta, Pakistan
Imran Shaikh, Samaa TV
January 10, 2013, in Quetta, Pakistan
Saqib Khan, Ummat
November 22, 2012, in Karachi, Pakistan
Rehmatullah Abid, Dunya News TV, Intikhaab
November 18, 2012, in Panjgur, Baluchistan, Pakistan
Mushtaq Khand, Dharti Television Network and Mehran
October 7, 2012, in Khairpur, Pakistan
Abdul Haq Baloch, ARY Television
September 29, 2012, in Khuzdar, Pakistan
Abdul Qadir Hajizai, WASH TV
May 28, 2012, in Quetta, Pakistan
Razzaq Gul, Express News TV
May 19, 2012, in Turbat, Pakistan
Mukarram Khan Aatif, Freelance
January 17, 2012, in Shabqadar, Pakistan
Javed Naseer Rind, Daily Tawar
November 2011, in Khuzdar, Pakistan
Faisal Qureshi, The London Post
October 7, 2011, in Lahore, Pakistan
Shafiullah Khan, The News
June 17, 2011, in Wah Cantonment, Pakistan
Asfandyar Khan, Akhbar-e-Khyber
June 11, 2011, in Peshawar, Pakistan
Saleem Shahzad, Asia Times Online
May 29 or 30, 2011, in Mandi Bahauddin, Pakistan
Nasrullah Khan Afridi, Pakistan Television and Mashriq
May 10, 2011, in Peshawar, Pakistan
Wali Khan Babar, Geo TV
January 13, 2011, in Karachi, Pakistan
Pervez Khan, Waqt TV
December 6, 2010, in Ghalanai, Pakistan
Abdul Wahab, Express News
December 6, 2010, in Ghalanai, Pakistan
Misri Khan, Ausaf and Mashriq
September 14, 2010, in Hangu, Pakistan
Ejaz Raisani, Samaa TV
September 6, 2010, in Quetta, Pakistan
Ejazul Haq, City-42 TV
May 28, 2010, in Lahore, Pakistan
Ghulam Rasool Birhamani, Daily Sindhu Hyderabad
May 9 or 10, 2010, in Wahi Pandhi, Pakistan
Azamat Ali Bangash, Samaa TV
April 17, 2010, in Orakzai, Pakistan
Malik Arif, Samaa TV
April 16, 2010, in Quetta, Pakistan
Janullah Hashimzada, freelance
August 24, 2009, in Jamrud, Pakistan
Musa Khankhel, Geo TV and The News
February 18, 2009, in Swat, Pakistan
Tahir Awan, freelance
January 4, 2009, in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Mohammad Imran, Express TV
January 4, 2009, in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Abdul Razzak Johra, Royal TV
November 3, 2008, in Punjab, Pakistan
Abdul Aziz Shaheen, Azadi
August 29, 2008, in Swat, Pakistan
Mohammed Ibrahim, Express TV and Daily Express
May 22, 2008, in Khar, Pakistan
Siraj Uddin, The Nation
February 29, 2008, in Mingora, Pakistan
Chishti Mujahid, Akbar-e-Jehan
February 9, 2008, in Quetta, Pakistan
Zubair Ahmed Mujahid, Jang
November 23, 2007, in Mirpur Khas, Pakistan
Muhammad Arif, ARY Television
October 19, 2007, in Karachi, Pakistan
Javed Khan, Markaz and DM Digital TV
July 3, 2007, in Islamabad, Pakistan
Noor Hakim Khan, Daily Pakistan
June 2, 2007, in Bajaur, Pakistan
Mehboob Khan, freelance
April 28, 2007, in Charsadda, Pakistan
Hayatullah Khan, freelance
June 16, 2006, in Miran Shah, Pakistan
Munir Ahmed Sangi, Kawish Television Network
May 29, 2006, in Larkana, Pakistan
Allah Noor, Khyber TV
February 7, 2005, in Wana, Pakistan
Amir Nowab, Associated Press Television News and Frontier Post
February 7, 2005, in Wana, Pakistan
Sajid Tanoli, Shumal
January 29, 2004, in Mansehra, Pakistan
Fazal Wahab, freelance
January 21, 2003, in Mingora, Pakistan
Shahid Soomro, Kawish
October 20, 2002, in Kandhkot, Pakistan
Daniel Pearl, The Wall Street Journal
Date unknown in 2002, in Karachi, Pakistan
Sufi Mohammad Khan, Ummat
May 2, 2000, in Badin, Pakistan
Z.A. Shahid, Khabrain
January 18, 1997, in Lahore, Pakistan
Mohammad Samdani Warsi, Parcham
December 6, 1994, in Karachi, Pakistan
Mohammed Salahuddin, Takbeer
December 4, 1994, in Karachi, Pakistan
6 Media Workers Killed in Pakistan
Terminology explained
Waqas Aziz Khan, Express TV
January 17, 2014, in Karachi, Pakistan
Mohammad Khalid, Express TV
January 17, 2014, in Karachi, Pakistan
Ashraf Arain, Express TV
January 17, 2014, in Karachi, Pakistan
Mohammad Amir , ARY Television
September 21, 2012, in Peshawar, Pakistan
Mohammad Sarwar, Aaj TV
September 3, 2010, in Quetta, Pakistan
Mian Iqbal Shah, Peshawar Press Club
December 22, 2009, in Peshawar, Pakistan
18 Journalists Killed in Pakistan/Motive Unconfirmed
Terminology explained
Haji Abdul Razzaq Baloch, Daily Tawar
Date unknown in 2013, in Karachi, Pakistan
Mehmood Jan Afridi, The Daily Intekhab
March 1, 2013, in Kalat, Pakistan
Malik Mumtaz, Geo TV and News International
February 27, 2013, in Miran Shah, Pakistan
Aurangzeb Tunio, Kawaish Television Network
May 10, 2012, in Lalu Ranwak, Pakistan
Muneer Shakir, Online News Network, Sabzbaat TV
August 14, 2011, in Khuzdar, Pakistan
Zaman Ibrahim, Daily Extra News
April 2, 2011, in Karachi, Pakistan
Abdost Rind, freelance
February 18, 2011, in Turbat, Pakistan
Ilyas Nizzar, Darwanth
January 3, 2011, in Pidarak, Pakistan
Mehmood Chandio, Awaz
December 5, 2010, in Mirpurkhas, Pakistan
Lala Hameed Baloch, Daily Intikhab
November 18, 2010, in an area outside Turbat, Pakistan
Siddique Bacha Khan, Aaj TV
August 14, 2009, in Mardan, Pakistan
Wasi Ahmad Qureshi, Daily Azadi, Balochistan Express
April 16, 2009, in Khuzdar, Pakistan
Raja Assad Hameed, The Nation, Waqt TV
March 26, 2009, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Khadim Hussain Sheikh, Sindh TV and Khabrein
April 14, 2008, in Hub, Pakistan
Mohammad Ismail, Pakistan Press International
November 1, 2006, in Islamabad, Pakistan
Asadullah, Freelancer
September 1, 2001, in Karachi, Pakistan
Nawaz Zulfiqar Memon, The Nation
December 3, 1999, in Islamabad, Pakistan
Carlos Mavroleon, Freelancer
August 27, 1998, in Peshawar, Pakistan
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Life of Imtiaz alam under threat
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