Six Pakistani journalists among 104 killed globally: IFJ

ISLAMABAD: Six Pakistani journalists were among 104 media persons who lost their lives globally in the line of duty in 2024.

According to the numbers released by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), more than half of them (55) were killed in Gaza alone, during the coverage of the ongoing Israel invaion of the region. 

The six of these journalists hailed from Pakistan were identified as Sagheer Ahmed Laar, Muhammad Siddique Mengal, Mehar Ashfaq Siyal, Kamran Dawar, Nasrullah Gadani and Khalil Jibran. 

The organisation also revealed the number of journalists languishing in prisons being 520, with 135 in China and Hong Kong followed by 59 Palestinians in Israel. 

Read more: https://humenglish.com/pakistan/pfuj-condemns-trolling-of-senior-anchors-journalists/

IFJ announced these figures on the International Day of Human Rights, reaffirming its conviction  to see an International Convention for the Protection of Journalists adopted by the United Nations urgently, while also calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said that the sad figures depict how fragile press freedom is and how risky and dangerous the profession of journalism can be.

“The public’s need for information is very real at a time when authoritarian regimes are developing all over the world. Greater vigilance on the part of our profession is required. We urge the Member States of the United Nations to take action to ensure the adoption of a binding convention on the safety of journalists, so as to put an end to the deaths and injuries that occur every year,” Bellanger said.

The year 2023 had been the deadliest for journalists with 129 documented deaths including 14 women, since the watchdog began publishing its list of journalists killed since 1990.