(PPF/IFEX) – Local Taliban have threatened four journalists in the South Waziristan Agency of Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), warning them to give up their profession or face the consequences. According to press reports, the threat was issued in pamphlets circulated by local Taliban in the town of Wana in South Waziristan. The pamphlet […]
(PPF/IFEX) – Local Taliban have threatened four journalists in the South Waziristan Agency of Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), warning them to give up their profession or face the consequences. According to press reports, the threat was issued in pamphlets circulated by local Taliban in the town of Wana in South Waziristan. The pamphlet alleges that the journalists were involved in false reporting on Taliban and local tribesmen.
The four persons named in the pamphlet include: Anwar Shakeel, correspondent of the daily “Islam” and AFP news agency; Zafar Wazir, correspondent of “Daily Aaj” and AVT Khyber television station; photojournalist Din Mohammed; and Gul Khan.
Most of the journalists from tribal areas of Pakistan moved out of the area and settled in other parts of the country. Those that stayed behind or have returned seem to have adopted a fatalistic approach to their work and have accepted grave danger to their lives.
The threats have been condemned by journalists’ organizations in the country.
