Media union leader Rana Muhammad Azeem, secretary general of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), received a death threat after exposing a mafia gangster in a television appearance. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its Pakistan affiliate to call for an urgent investigation into the threat. 

The PFUJ said on March 26 that its Secretary General Rana Muhammad  Azeem received death- threat from a gangster after exposing mafia in a recent TV talk-show broadcastedon 92 News Channel. Earlier ,the Karachi-based Urdu newspaper had published the warrant notice against Rana Muhammad Azeem on February 28  leveling  allegations of criminal conduct against the secretary general of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ).

The PFUJ said threats to working journalists had become more common in Pakistan despite repeated protests and activism by journalists. It also accused the Pakistan government of failing to  provide security to the journalists.

PFUJ president, GM Jamali, said: “Journalists are duty bound to expose gangsters and other anomalies in the society and authorities have responsibilities to provide security to the journalists.  Therefore, authorities in the Punjab province and Federal government must take action and arrest gangster in next 24 hours. Otherwise the PFUJ launches country-wide protest.”

IFJ said: “The IFJ demands independent investigation on the case.”