Why Islamabad is not all that safe for journalists

May 28, 2018 14:32

'Journalists are living in a constant nightmare in the Pakistani capital following cases of abductions and beatings; on some occasions reporters have been targeted just because of their journalistic work. As a result, there are also reports of journalists fleeing Islamabad,' writes Muhammad Akbar Notezai in thediplomat.com.

Notezai, who works for Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, should know. The daily ran an interview with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in which he questioned the wisdom of allowing non-state actors carrying out the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008, and had to pay a heavy price for it.

'The future of free and independent press in Pakistan is at stake. Electronic media is already controlled, and now print media is being brought to heel -- precisely because it provides space to dissent, critical thinking, and independent reporting,' writes Notezai, who ties the current crackdown on the media to the Pashtun protest movement sweeping Pakistan and the government's intent to force a media blackout on its coverage.

You can read the article here.

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