Justice for Journalists
Justice for Journalists
Adnan Athar Mangi
Articles

The safety of journalists is important to ensure transparent and fair reporting, however, the culture of impunity against crimes towards journalists hinders every possibility of fair reporting. It also raises question about the freedom of media and our ‘so-called’ open societies. Most of the journalist in the country, are killed and murdered in Balochistan, there are numerous cases where justice has not been provided.

The safety of journalists is important to ensure transparent and fair reporting, however, the culture of impunity against crimes towards journalists hinders every possibility of fair reporting. It also raises question about the freedom of media and our ‘so-called’ open societies. Most of the journalist in the country, are killed and murdered in Balochistan, there are numerous cases where justice has not been provided.

One of them is the case of Irshad mastoi, 30 years old journalist who was murdered in his office, situated, at Kabir buiding, Quetta. One of his cousins, Abid mir who is also a journalist, said that, Irshad Mastoi as a rebel character of a story. He worked for truth and was a voracious reader he never compromised on his principal and always highlights truth.

Abid said that he served in various media outlets he has left two daughters and a son who will be joining someday the profession of journalism as a mission as their father did.

The news of Irshad’s murder was given to his family  by his journalist friends and they also watched it on T.V, said Abid mir. The Government promised his family to provide 1 million but they gave only half million to them .Two perpetrators were arrested who said they committed the murder on the directions of banned militant  outfit both of them during identifying terrorists in a military operation were killed and his file was closed , told Abid mir.

Media industry crises:  A majority of the journalists here in Balochistan are working in unsafe environment Ibrahim behrani (Senior cameraman Neo news channel says I have been working in this profession for last 10 years,  No doubt that journalism is a sacred profession but  If i had an alternative i would  quit this job today “ibrahim behrani further said. There is no Governmental assistance to journalist like trainings and workshops whatever training we have had it’s from the Non-Government organizations in which we are been told how to remain safe while working on crime scenes

He recalls 8 August blast at civil hospital as gory act of terror in   which 2 Cameramen of private news channels were martyred.

Press club was going to form a Shuda trust for the financial assistance of martyred journalist’s families. but they put the whole responsibility on the journalists who are working in Quetta city. Because of which it could not work and justice is far from being dreamed said, Ibrahim behrani.

Slain journalist FIR (First investigation reports):  Two of the suspects of irshad’s murder were arrested they said they murdered irshad  on  the directions of banned militant outfit  but a few months later both of the captured accused were killed in identifying terrorist during a military operation and file was closed, Said Abid mir

Irshad was not the only one who was killed but  along with him  a final year mass communication student and  trainee reporter Abdul Rasul and accountant Muhammad Younis of the Online international news network  were also murdered on 28 Aug 2014.

There are numerous cases in which journalist are targeted and killed, there were some 30 of the journalist who were targeted when Irshad was killed and the tension here escalated after 2005 but none of the journalist had been provided justice said , Kazim mengal Bureau Chief Neo News.

Covering firing incidents: In my media career I have covered 3 firing incidents.

The first one that I remember  happened at sariyab road the police were trying to recover abducted man and the firing was going on the bullets were going over our heads.

We got away from to the gate to a bridge which was being constructed we recorded the visual carefully and hiding ourselves,said Ibrahim behrani ( Senior cameraman Neo news Quetta bureau)

The second one when there was an attack between 2015-16 at Quetta Airport our seniors told us to hide so we can save cover ourselves bullets which were being hit at the electric wires above our heads.Our organization have not provided us any training said Ibrahim behrani.

The equipments of the organization that are working along with the journalist are way more precious to the owners than their employee lives. Journalists are mostly psychological effected  by the traumas and event that he/ she faces said Kazim mengal.

Owners and organizations

Kazim mengal is the senior most person among journalists in Quetta here in Balochistan There is much  pressure for breaking news from organization on the journalist, British Broad Casting  (BBC) is one of the renowned organization of the world .They would not give breaking news until there is confirm news of any incident or event. They televise that the incident have happened but they won’t give any misinformation.

But here in our media they will tell the journalist that the other channel haves televised 4 killed and you give us the information of 10 persons killed which morally and ethically wrong. Said Kazim mengal

We don’t have any training but NGOs do provide training while organizations like as British Broad Casting (BBC provides training every 3 years about security and safety to their journalists with all of the developments that takes place in the world.

They do not compel their journalist to go in danger and instruct that Until there is journalist there is news they have importance of human lives more than news .