The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), on behalf of international partners and the South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN), extends its support and solidarity to the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) as it launches a nation-wide series of protests today against targeted killing of journalist and growing professional insecurity. According to the PFUJ, Pakistan’s already tattered reputation for journalists’ safety has been further damaged by a tide of retrenchments and job losses in major media organisations, coupled with many months of default on the payment of salaries. The PFUJ has called on its affiliates all across the country to take out protest rallies and wear black armbands. According to PFUJ President Pervaiz Shaukat, there have been major job losses in the media in recent years, most recently in Geo TV which belongs to one of Pakistan’s largest media conglomerates. PFUJ Secretary-General Amin Yousaf has commented that despite the clear mandate available under the Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, the Pakistan Government has not been serious in addressing the mounting problems of the media community. The targeted killing of journalists meanwhile continues with little effort in evidence to check the climate of impunity. The most recent instance recorded was in the abduction, torture and subsequent killing of RazzaqGul in the troubled province of Balochistan. “Pakistan’s journalists deserve all the support they can get in this moment of crisis”, said the IFJ Asia-Pacific. “Despite taking serious risks in collecting the news from Pakistan’s more strife-prone areas, journalists have enjoyed little in the way of proactive measures of protection by media managements and the state security agencies”. “To add the tension of possible job losses to the mix is to compound their anxieties, when the opposite should be the main priority of media management”. Forfurther information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0950The IFJrepresents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries Findthe IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific Findthe IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific