Journalists in danger
Sir: In third world countries, the media is paying a heavy price to expose the truth. According to reports in the media, another Pakistani journalist and Express TV bureau chief was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the southwest Balochistan province. Similarly, the dead body of another kidnapped Pakistani journalist was discovered in Karachi last week. A reporter from a Karachi-based television channel was kidnapped just a week ago. At least eight journalists have died in Pakistan since the beginning of 2011. The statistics by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says that 42 journalists have been killed in Pakistan since 1992. According to CPJ, Pakistan is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists for the second consecutive year. Pakistan, Mexico, Iraq and Libya are considered the most dangerous countries for journalists. In countries where political and sectarian groups run personal militias, the media pays dearly for exposing the truth. Journalists are covering dangerous assignments without any protection in areas bordering Afghanistan. It is pertinent that the government make the safety of journalists its first priority and let a free press develop and progress in Pakistan since that is the only way to keep evil forces from applying their dirty grip on the safety of this country.
KHAWAJA UMER FAROOQ
Jeddah,
Saudi Arabia
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