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December 13, 2024 – Pakistan –
Pakistani journalist Malik Zafar Iqbal Naich was shot and killed in a targeted attack in Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, marking a grim continuation of violence against media workers in the country. Naich, a local correspondent known for reporting on governance issues, crime, and community concerns, was gunned down by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle while on his way to work. The brazen nature of the attack has sparked outrage and renewed fears among journalists already working under mounting pressure and insecurity.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Naich is the eleventh journalist killed in Pakistan in 2024 alone, underscoring a deadly trend that reflects deteriorating press freedom and escalating risks for reporters, especially those working in regional areas. Many of the slain journalists had been covering sensitive topics such as political corruption, law enforcement abuses, and militant activity. The CPJ and other watchdog groups warn that the repeated killings, coupled with a near-total lack of prosecutions, have created an environment of impunity that emboldens perpetrators and forces many reporters into self-censorship.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay condemned the killing and called for a swift and transparent investigation. Stressing that journalists must be protected as civilians under international law, she urged Pakistani authorities to hold the attackers accountable. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) also joined in condemning the murder, describing it as part of a wider pattern of violence targeting the press in Pakistan.
Naich’s death adds to a growing list of journalists in Pakistan who have paid the ultimate price for their work. Despite repeated international calls for reform, Pakistani journalists—especially those outside major urban centers—remain vulnerable to intimidation, harassment, and violence. Investigations into journalist killings are often slow or inconclusive, and few result in convictions.
As local journalist unions and international organizations call for enhanced legal protections and thorough investigations, Naich’s killing serves as a stark reminder of the dangers journalists face simply for doing their jobs. His death reinforces the urgent need for systemic change to end impunity and protect press freedom in Pakistan.
Reference –
11th Pakistani journalist killed in 2024 amid growing wave of violence
