The International Federation of Journalists has called on the Pakistani government to take every step necessary to bring the murderers of journalist Nadeem Hyder to swift justice.
According to reports, Nadeem, a correspondent for Dunya News, was shot dead by two unknown assailants who in the town of Hafizabad last Friday, 3 October. The killers fled the scene. Local police are said to have registered the case and begun an investigation.
President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Rana Azeem, has condemned the killing of yet another journalist in the country and reiterated the plea for increased protection for media personnel.
Threats and attacks against journalists continue to increase in Pakistan as the country’s key opposition parties intensify demonstrations against the government. During recent protests many journalists, media staff and media houses came under attack from both the state and opposition.
Most recently, in mid-September shots were fired at Rana Azeem’s house in an attempt to intimidate and silence him.
“We join the PFUJ to condemn the appalling murder of our colleague Nadeem Hyder and we send our deepest condolences to his family and colleagues,” said IFJ General Secretary Beth Costa.
“We appeal for the government to leave no stone unturned in this case and to ensure that those responsible answer for this horrific crime.”
The IFJ’s End Impunity campaign continues to call for authorities in Pakistan to investigate journalist killings and bring their perpetrators to justice. Last year, there were ten media fatalities in the country, making it the third most dangerous country in the world for journalists after Syria and Iraq.
For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 17 The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 134 countries
