On World Press Freedom Day, Geo honours reporters slain in the line of duty
This year's theme for World Press Freedom Day is 'Journalism without Fear or Favour'
May 03, 2020
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
