Islamabad/Geneva: One more journalist of Pakistan named Muhammad Younis was shot dead by unidentified assailants on August 27, 2022, in Shorkot tehsil in the Jhang district of Pakistan’s Punjab province.
Younis, who was associated with an Urdu language daily newspaper Express, was targeted by two gunmen while he was riding his two-wheeler. The president of Shorkot Press Club died on the spot, while the attackers fled away from the location. Local journalists have urged Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take immediate action and ensure the rule of law across the country.
Already emerged as a dangerous country for working journalists, Pakistan earlier witnessed the killing of Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasnain Shah, Murtaza Shar and Athar Mateen since January 1, this year.
Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body today expressed serious concern about the relentless murder of journalists in the south-Asian nation and demanded stringent actions against the culprits so that it can work as a deterrent.
“As many as 86 journalists have been killed globally so far in 2022, which is more than for the whole year in 2021 (79). Ukraine and Mexico are leading in numbers of journo-victims whereas Asian nation Pakistan also continues losing scribes to assailants.” Blaise Lempen, president of PEC, said in Geneva today.
PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that Pakistan’s southern neighbour India also lost four journalists namely Rohit Kumar Biswal, Sudhir Saini, Juned Khan Pathan and Subhash Kumar Mahato to assailants till date this year. Three journalists namely Hashibur Rahaman Rubel, Mohiuddin Sarker Nayeem and Abdul Bari have been killed in India’s eastern neighbour Bangladesh since January 1, 2022. Myanmar witnessed the death of a photographer (Aye Kyaw) while in military custody during the same period.
– global bihari bureau
