Free speech continuously suppressed, four journalists killed in 2022: CPNE report

Four media professionals were killed in the line of duty in 2022, according to a report released by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors.

According to the “Pakistan Press Freedom Report 2022,” last year saw an increase in the dangers to the country’s media freedom, while efforts to stifle and undermine free speech continued.

In more than 28 incidents, 13 journalists faced violence, the households of two journalists were attacked, 10 journalists were arrested and cases were lodged against them, and three female journalists were harassed, the report added.

It noted that freedom of media and freedom of expression in Pakistan on the latest world index ranked 157th which is 12 points worse off, compared to that of the previous year.

“The inhumane murder of well-known anchor and journalist, Arshad Sharif, Athar Mateen and Zia-ur-Rehman Farooqi has exposed the mendacious claims of media freedom by the government and authorities. Moreover, the death of Sadaf Naeem, a female reporter and journalist, during the performance of her duty shed light on the substandard safety measures,” stated the report.

The report furthered that despite the ruling of a new government in 2022, the malicious intimidation tactics to oppress media freedom, freedom of expression, and information accessibility remained unchanged.

In a press release, the CPNE stated that as indicated in the report, the most gruesome murder case on the line of duty is of anchor Arshad Sharif in Kenya.

“The dreadful murder of Arshad Sharif does not only threaten the Pakistani Journalists carrying out international-level investigative journalism but also inculcated fear in prospected candidates and those willing to join the media profession” the council added.

According to the CPNE research, threats and attacks against media workers over the course of the past year have undermined Pakistan’s democratic government’s claims and exposed its authoritarian structure.

It argued that anti-media activities were perpetrated last year against journalists, media professionals, and media organizations as a result of intolerance and prejudice toward the media.