On World Press Freedom Day, Geo honours reporters slain in the line of duty

World Press Freedom Day is being observed today with journalists making a resolve to keep pursuing the mission to know and inform others without being intimidated by the rival forces.

To mark the day, Geo News has also released a promo to pay tribute to all the reporters and media workers who have fallen in the line of duty.

The United Nation General Assembly declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day in 1991 to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right of freedom of expression.

The theme for this year's World Press Freedom Day is “Journalism without Fear or Favour” with sub-themes discussing the safety of journalists and all the media workers. It also talks about the independent and professional journalism free from political and commercial influence and gender equality in all aspect of the media.

A report released by Freedom Network for Pakistan ahead of the World Press Freedom Day expressed concerns over the escalating climate of intimidation and harassment affecting the freedom of expression and access to information environment in the country.

Read also: Pakistan’s 2019 press freedom report paints a bleak picture

The network stated that at least 91 cases, including seven murders of journalists and a blogger, attacks and other violations, against media and its practitioners were recorded in Pakistan between May 2019 and April 2020.

The report titled “Murders, Harassment and Assault: The Tough Wages of Journalism in Pakistan,” states, “The screws on media in Pakistan are being tightened through various means of censorship, including murders, threats, and harassment, resulting in increasing silence and resulting in erosion of public-interest journalism.”

Executive Director of Freedom Network Pervez Khattak pointed out that the collected data showed that no place in Pakistan was safe. He added that attacks against journalists are taking place everywhere.

The arrest of Editor-in-Chief of the Jang Geo Media Group Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman on trumped-up charges by National Accountability Bureau has put a question mark on the status of media freedom in the country.

Read also: Protests against Mir Shakilur Rahman’s detention continue for the 50th day

MSR’s arrest in a 34-year-old property case has been decried by the international media organisations, human rights bodies and major western nations including the United States as an attempt to pressurise the largest media group in the country.

Salute to all those who laid their lives to uphold the sanctity of this noble profession.

Saif-ur-Rehman – January 10, 2013

Sajid Tanoli – January 29, 2004

Saleem Shahzad – May 29 or 30, 2011

Saqib Khan – November 22, 2012

Shafiullah Khan – June 17, 2011

Shahid Soomro – October 20, 2002

Shan Dhar – January 1, 2014

Shahzad Ahmed – August 8, 2016

Siraj-ul-Din – February 29, 2008

Sohail Khan – October 16, 2018

Sufi Mohammad Khan – May 2, 2000

Tahir Awan – January 4, 2009

Taimur Khan – February 12, 2017

Wali Khan Babar – January 13, 2011

Z A Shahid – January 18, 1997

Zaman Masood – November 3, 2015

Zubair Ahmed Mujahid – November 23, 2007

Aziz Memon – February 16, 2020

Salik Ali Jaffri – November 22, 2013

Malik Mumtaz – February 27, 2013

Arshad Ali Jaffrey – September 8, 2015

Aftab Alam – September 9, 2015

Janullah Hashimzada – August 24, 2009

Javed Khan – July 3, 2007

Javed Nasir Rind – November 1, 2011

Malik Arif – April 16, 2010

Mehboob Khan – August 8, 2016

Mirza Iqbal Hussain – January 10, 2013

Masri Khan – September 14, 2010

Mohammad Imran – January 4, 2009

Mohammad Samdani Warsi – December 6, 1994

Mohammad Ibrahim – May 22, 2008

Mohammad Salahuddin – December 4, 1994

Mohammad Arif – October 19, 2007

Mukram Khan Atif – January 17, 2012

Munir Ahmed Sangi – May 29, 2006

Musa Khan Khel – February 18, 2009

Mushtaq Khand – October 7, 2012

Nasrullah Khan Afridi – May 10, 2011

Noor Hakeem Khan – June 2, 2007

Pervez Khan – December 6, 2010

Razzak Gul – May 19, 2012

Rehmatullah Abid – November 18, 2012

Abdullah Aziz Shaheen – August 29, 2008

Abdul Haq Baloch – September 29, 2012

Abdul Qadir Haji Zai – May 28, 2012

Abdul Razzak Johra – November 3, 2008

Abdul Al-Wahab – December 6, 2010

Allah Noor – February 7, 2005

Amir Nawab - February 7, 2005

Asfandyar Khan – June 11, 2011

Aslam Durrani – April 16, 2011

Ayub Khattak – October 11, 2013

Azmat Ali Bangash – April 17, 2010

Chisti Mujahid – February 9, 2008

Daniel Pearl – February 2002

Aijaz Raisani – September 6, 2010

Aijaz-ul-Haq – May 28, 2010

Faisal Qureshi – October 7, 2011

Fazal Wahab – January 21, 2003

Ghulam Rasool – August 28, 2014

Ghulam Rasool Barhamani – May 9, 2010

Hayatallah Khan – June 16, 2006

Imran Sheikh – January 10, 2013

Arshad Mastoi – August 28, 2014