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mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">Digital Desk: The
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) called on the Shehbaz government
to preserve the rights of journalists and media employees on World Press
Freedom Day.
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mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#222222">
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">PFUJ president
Shahzada Zulfiqar and secretary-general Nasir Zaidi emphasised the importance
of press freedom, free speech, and expression in a joint statement released on
Monday. "Press freedom is a characteristic of any developed and healthy
country, and it must not be jeopardised," they said.
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mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#222222">
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">This comes after the
International Federation of Journalists listed Pakistan as the fifth most
dangerous country for journalists to work in (IFJ).
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#222222">
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">According to reports
in the media, 138 journalists died in the line of duty in the country between
1990 and 2020.
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mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#222222">
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">In at least nine
incidents, journalists were intimidated or silenced totally, whether in the
form of attack, enforced disappearances, murder, or overt censorship," the
PFUJ said, expressing alarm about the situation of media freedom in Pakistan.
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mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#222222">
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">Furthermore, media
personnel have been harassed by PTI supporters, and even female journalists and
anchors have been bullied and trolled by cabinet members, which is unacceptable
in any civilised society, according to the statement.
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mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#222222">
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">Those who refused to bow
to the government's demands were fined, which hurt both media companies and
individuals, forcing the industry into financial ruin.
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mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:#222222">
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">The administration
should immediately create a climate conducive to press freedom by engaging in a
dialogue with stakeholders to develop a strategy to safeguard press freedom in
the country, according to the statement.
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mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">Pakistan is still one
of the top ten countries in the world where predators of journalists and media
go unpunished.
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