70 journalists killed in 2009

Sttaf Report KARACHI: The first decade of 21st century proved to be the most dangerous decade in the journalistic history with 468 journalists killed in the line of duty. These journalists who lost their lives across the world include 23 Pakistanis. According to Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) 2009 was the worst year of the decade and 70 journalists were killed due to motives related to their professional duties. The CJP is still investigating 20 other journalist deaths worldwide in 2009 to determine whether they were work-related. The 2009 toll is up more than 60 percent from the 42 deaths recorded in 2008. “This has been a year of unprecedented devastation for the world’s media, but the violence also confirms long-term trends,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. Pakistan is considered the fourth deadliest country for journalists in 2009, matching Iraq with the same casualty rate, while Philippines tops the list. At least 29 journalists were killed in the Philippines’ southernmost main island, Mindanao on November 23, 2009, the deadliest event for the press in CPJ history. All but three of the 2009 victims were local journalists. While local reporters have long been more vulnerable to deadly violence than their foreign counterparts, the divide has never been wider in CPJ’s annual assessment. Nine freelance journalists were among the 2009 victims. The proportion of freelancers was consistent with past years. 23 journalists were killed in Pakistan during the first decade of 21st century. These include: Janullah Hashimzada, Shamshad TV - August 24, 2009, in Jamrud, Pakistan Musa Khankhel, Geo TV and The News - February 18, 2009, in Swat, Pakistan Tahir Awan, freelance - January 4, 2009, in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan Mohammad Imran, Express TV - January 4, 2009, in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan Abdul Razzak Johra, Royal TV - November 3, 2008, in Punjab, Pakistan Abdul Aziz Shaheen, Azadi - August 29, 2008, in Swat, Pakistan Mohammed Ibrahim, Express TV and Daily Express - May 22, 2008, in Khar, Pakistan Siraj Uddin, The Nation - February 29, 2008, in Mingora, Pakistan Chishti Mujahid, Akbar-e-Jehan - February 9, 2008, in Quetta, Pakistan Zubair Ahmed Mujahid, Jang - November 23, 2007, in Mirpur Khas, Pakistan Muhammad Arif, ARY One World TV - October 19, 2007, in Karachi, Pakistan Javed Khan, Markaz and DM Digital TV - July 3, 2007, in Islamabad, Pakistan Noor Hakim Khan, Daily Pakistan - June 2, 2007, in Bajaur, Pakistan Mehboob Khan, freelance - April 28, 2007, in Charsadda, Pakistan Hayatullah Khan, freelance - June 16, 2006, in Miran Shah, Pakistan Munir Ahmed Sangi, Kawish Television Network (KTN) - May 29, 2006, in Larkana, Pakistan Allah Noor, Khyber TV - February 7, 2005, in Wana, Pakistan Amir Nowab , Associated Press Television News and Frontier Post - February 7, 2005, in Wana, Pakistan Sajid Tanoli, Shumal - January 29, 2004, in Mansehra, Pakistan Fazal Wahab, freelance - January 21, 2003, in Mingora, Pakistan Shahid Soomro, Kawish - October 20, 2002, in Kandhkot, Pakistan Daniel Pearl, The Wall Street Journal - Date unknown, in Karachi, Pakistan Sufi Mohammad Khan, Ummat - May 2, 2000, in Badin, Pakistan