(PPF/IFEX) – Two rural journalists in Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh received death threats from feudal lords for reporting on the quasi-judicial decision of Jirga, a traditional feudal assembly, to hand over for marriage five girls, all minors, to a rival family in order to settle a murder dispute. Reporters Sarmad Kanrani, of the daily […]
(PPF/IFEX) – Two rural journalists in Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh received death threats from feudal lords for reporting on the quasi-judicial decision of Jirga, a traditional feudal assembly, to hand over for marriage five girls, all minors, to a rival family in order to settle a murder dispute.
Reporters Sarmad Kanrani, of the daily “Ibrat” and Sindh TV and Mubarak Bhatti of the daily “Koshish” and KTN TV, in the small town of Thul, said they have been receiving threats from the local feudal lords for reports that were initially published and broadcast in the Sindhi language newspapers and television channels, and were later picked up by the national media.
Mubarak Bhatti said twelve persons came to his house on 15 June 2006 and threatened to kill him if he did not stop filing news of Jirga’s decision. Sarmad Kanrani said a leading gangster (dacoit) of the area came to his office on 14 June, threatened him with dire consequences and smashed his computer.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed its concern over the threats to journalists and vowed to protest, on various forums, the increasing incidence of violence on the press in Sindh.
Sarmad Kanrani temporarily came to Karachi for safety and a police guard has been provided for protection of Mubarak Bhatti.
The Chief Minister of the province of Sindh, Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim, has formed a committee consisting of District Police Officer (DPO) Karachi Mushtaq Maher, and town police officers Saddar Karachi and Sanaullah Abbassi, to investigate this case and report back to him within ten days.
