IFJ and its ally PFUJ strongly condemn Thursday’s killing, demand speedy investigation into the crime

According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Pakistani journalist Malik Zafar Iqbal Naich was cruelly shot and murdered by two attackers while delivering local newspapers in Rahim Yar Khan, a city in southern Punjab.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), an affiliate of IFJ, has strongly denounced Thursday’s murder and demanded a prompt inquiry into the incident.

Local journalist Naich was shot dead early in the morning while distributing newspapers as part of his daily practice with his hawker, Nazar Hussain, at Chowk Chanigoth in the Taranda Muhammad Panah neighborhood.

Hussain stated that two unidentified assailants fired numerous bullets at Naich, wounding him six times. Hussain had briefly left Naich to deliver newspapers elsewhere. The attackers then left the area. At the scene of the assault, Naich passed away.

Although the attack’s purpose is yet unknown, the Pakistani police have filed a formal complaint under Section 302/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The local government has promised to look into the matter further and find the criminals.

With eight journalist murders this year, Pakistan is now the worst place in South Asia for journalists in 2024. A shooting incident in the northern Pakistani town of Ochut earlier in November also claimed the life of Janan Hussain, the general secretary of the Parachinar Press Club. A perilous climate for journalists has been created in the nation by the increase in violence, continuous political unrest, and violent demonstrations.

The PFUJ issued a statement condemning the murder: “We strongly condemn the killing of Malik Zafar Naich and demand the authorities arrest the culprits and provide justice to the family.”

Anthony Bellanger, general secretary of the IFJ, voiced alarm over the declining safety of journalists in Pakistan.

“The number of murders of journalists in Pakistan in 2024 is rising. We demand that the circumstances behind Malik Zafar Naich’s murder be thoroughly investigated.

To be safe and report appropriately in the face of the nation’s increasing violence, media professionals and journalists need to be on guard, he added.

The safety of Pakistan’s media workers is still a major concern as the country struggles with rising levels of violence and political instability. International organizations and the PFUJ are still pleading with the government to protect and safeguard journalists who operate in such dangerous environments.