Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) warn Pakistan’s media and journalists stop calling them as a “terrorist outfit” or “they will be treated as enemies” | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) warn Pakistan’s media and journalists stop calling them as a “terrorist outfit” or “they will be treated as enemies”

Pakistan Press Foundation

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has warned Pakistan’s media and journalists to refrain from referring to them as a “terrorist outfit” or “they will be treated as enemies”, daily Dawn reported.  Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) urges the authorities to ensure the safety of the media in light of such a warning and to ensure that the media is able to operate freely and cover developments regarding different outfits in the country.

According to the report, a statement was released by the TTP on social media on September 6 in which they said they were monitoring the media coverage, “branding the TTP with hateful titles like terrorists and extremists”.  “Using such terms for TTP showed a partisan role of media and journalists,” the statement was quoted.

The media in Pakistan operates within a highly restrictive environment with a danger to their safety from various fronts including in coverage of proscribed outfits. Such a warning issued by the TTP is a threat to the safety of the media covering related developments. PPF hopes the TTP warnings do not create obstructions for the Pakistani media in their work, and calls the authorities to ensure the safety of the media from any imminent threats. While it is the job of the media to cover all news responsibly so that it is accurate and reflective of the developments on the ground, the media is not required to fit the narrative of any specific entity — state or non-state. As the media continue their work, PPF urges authorities and media outlets to ensure the safety of the media on the ground.


Comments are closed.