News Desk
The Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ), led by President Farzana Chaudhry and General Secretary Amer Malik, has strongly denounced the recent killing of Siddique Mangal, President of the Khuzdar Press Club, in a remote-controlled bomb blast on World Press Freedom Day. Describing the attack as barbaric, the PUJ, with Senior Vice President Aqeel Anjum Awan, Vice President Muhammad Mujeeb Ullah, Senior Joint Secretary Syed Afaq Ali Zaidi, Joint Secretary Javaid Hashmi, Treasurer Darakhshanda Alamdar, and other members of the Executive Council, has raised serious concerns about the deteriorating state of press freedom in Pakistan, citing censorship, intimidation, and violence against journalists as pervasive issues.
According to PUJ officials, nearly 50 journalists have been killed in the country over the past five years, highlighting the dangerous environment faced by media workers. The union has pointed to a culture of impunity surrounding attacks on journalists, with perpetrators rarely facing consequences for their actions. This climate of fear and self-censorship further exacerbates the challenges faced by media professionals.
In addition to physical threats, the PUJ has also highlighted financial exploitation within the media industry as a significant barrier to press freedom. By subjecting journalists to economic discrimination, media owners effectively stifle dissenting voices and prioritize commercial interests over journalistic integrity.
To address these issues, the PUJ has called on international organizations such as the United Nations, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to pressure the Pakistani government to take action. Specifically, the PUJ is urging for thorough investigations into attacks on journalists, accountability for perpetrators, an end to financial discrimination within the media industry, and comprehensive legal reforms to safeguard press freedom in Pakistan.