By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PAKISTAN – In the northwest Tribal Area of Bajaur, Pakistani journalists receive threats and are subjected to violence amidst fighting between the Taliban and government forces.  A fatwa was issued against two journalists and a grenade was thrown at a press club.

The fatwa was issued by the Taliban to two journalists, Anwarullah Khan and Irfanullah Jan, accused of acting as “agents of the west.”  The fatwa was broadcasted over the radio.

The Khar Press Club building was damaged by a grenade on December 13.

Reporters Without Borders urges both the Taliban and security forces to stop the violence.  “The Tribal Areas are being steadily emptied of their journalists because of the threats and violence against them,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The Taliban groups and security forces are entirely to blame for this exodus as they display a disgraceful disregard for media freedom and safety.”

The Press Feedom Organisation also stated, “The Tribal Areas, especially Bajaur, are at the centre major international conflict but the press is in the process of disappearing there. We appeal to all parties to stop targeting journalists, who are neither the West’s agents nor Taliban supporters but just media professionals and nothing else.”

Many journalists in the Tribal Area of Bajaur have fled or are in hiding.  Only a handful continue to work.

One journalists anonymously said, “I cannot leave my home for fear of being kidnapped or killed. I am cut off from the world.”

In addition, these journalists are forced to censor themselves.

“I report less than half of what happens in my area,” a Pakistani journalist said. “We have to censor ourselves if we want to stay alive.”

Seven journalists have been killed due to the nature of their reporting, making Pakistan second to Iraq for killings related to the media.

For more information, please see:

Committee to Protect Journalists – Two Journalists Wounded in Pakistan Shooting – 14 November 2008

Newsweek – Pakistan Journalists Come Under Attack – 4 November 2008

Reporters Without Borders – Fatwa and Violence Against Journalists in Tribal Areas – 29 December 2008