The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) learns with great
concern from its affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ),
that 20 journalists and media workers suffered injuries of varying degrees of
severity in the lethal bombing at the headquarters of Pakistan’s military intelligence establishment
in Lahore on
May 27.
“The IFJ condemns this horrific terrorist attack which has taken a huge
toll of innocent civilian life,” IFJ General Secretary Aidan
White said. “At the same time, we extend our solidarity to Pakistan’s
journalists, who find themselves increasingly caught in the crossfire of
escalating conflict in the country.”
According to reports received from
the PFUJ, the offices of the leading Pakistani newspapers, Nawa-I-Waqt, The
Nation, Nia Akhbar, Khabrain and Ausaf, as also of the Waqt and
Channel 5 news broadcasters, suffered serious damage in the attack, which
injured several staff working in these premises.
The IFJ had recently joined Reporters
Without Borders in writing to the Pakistan Government to urge that
appropriate attention be given to the safety of journalists living and working
in areas of conflict.
An official spokesperson for the Government
was reported in local media on May 27 to have said that all necessary security
assurances were being given to the media, and advising Pakistan’s journalists to take
responsibility for their own security and to “avoid unnecessary adventurism”.
“It is ironic that the Lahore blast on the very same day has shown how vulnerable
Pakistan’s
journalists are, even in an environment they are entitled to regard as secure -
their own offices,” White said.
“We call on media owners to take all
necessary steps, including providing insurance cover and investing in
protective gear, to ensure that the conflict does not continue to take a toll
of Pakistan’s
media workers.”
For
further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific
on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ
represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries