02/06/25
The journalistic community in Pakistan is mourning the deaths of two more colleagues in the space of a week, amid calls for greater recognition of the dangers journalists face in doing their work.
Abdul Latif Baloch, pictured left, known for his reporting on human rights violations, was killed in Balochistan, in his home area of Awaran. Syed Muhammad Shah, pictured right, a correspondent for Ab-Tak TV was shot dead when gunmen broke into his home in Jacobabad District, Sindh.
Local activists of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee say Abdul Latif was shot dead by unknown assailants who broke into his home. The killing comes just months after members of his family were abducted and later found dead.
“This is not just a tragedy for one family. It is an act of terror meant to silence an entire people,” said the Committee in a statement. “We call on the United Nations, international media, and press freedom organisations to break their silence and confront these crimes against humanity.”
“A dedicated and honest journalist”
Abdul Latif worked for the Daily Intekhab and Aaj News TV channel. The Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) described him as a dedicated and honest journalist and said his targetted killing again raised serious questions about press freedom in Balochistan. It said the attack was part of a broader conspiracy to silence independent voices in the province.
“Journalists in a sensitive region like Balochistan already face grave threats, and such attacks highlight the government’s failure to ensure their safety,” said the BUJ.
Local activists have hit out at what they describe as the Pakistani government’s “kill and dump” policy, calling it a systematic campaign to silence dissent and erase Baloch identity in the province, where there are calls for greater autonomy.
The latest incidents bring to three the number of journalists killed in Pakistan this year. Last year, 12 journalists were reported to have been killed in different parts of the country.
The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors has condemned the killings, saying it was a failure of the federal and provincial governments to protect freedom of the press.
