Journalists covering Pakistan election advised to take precautions

Posters of political parties for Pakistan’s July 25 election are prepared in Quetta. (BANARAS KHAN/AFP)

• CPJ said in its advisory that terrorist attacks in Pakistan have been declining but such incidents cannot be ruled out
• Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) on July 5 launched “Press Freedom Movement”

ISLAMABAD: Journalists covering Pakistan’s July 25 general election may face physical aggression, and the possibility of terrorist attacks cannot be ruled out, said the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent press freedom advocacy organization.
The US-based watchdog issued safety guidelines for journalists covering the election, particularly political rallies.
“Plan the assignment and ensure that you have a full battery on your cell phone. Know the area you are going to. Work out in advance what you would do in an emergency,” the CPJ advised.
“Always try to work with a colleague and have a regular check-in procedure with your base — particularly when covering rallies or crowd events… Identify an escape route and have a team emergency meeting point,” it said.
“If aggression increases, keep a hand free to protect your head and move with short, deliberate steps to avoid falling. If in a team, stick together and link arms,” it added.
“While documenting aggression can sometimes be crucial journalistic work, be aware of the situation and your safety. Taking pictures of aggressive individuals can escalate a situation.”
The number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan has been declining, but journalists should be prepared to avoid any situation, the CPJ said.
“Events can happen very quickly, and the mood of a crowd can change in an instant. Remain alert and prepared to move at all times,” it added. 
“Crowds can pose a threat to journalists reporting on an attack. Try to remain on the edge of crowds, and be aware that they can turn hostile.”
The CPJ also warned that online abuse and trolling of journalists may increase during election coverage.
“You can protect your accounts from hacking by creating long and strong passwords and by turning on 2-factor verification,” it said. 
“Review your privacy settings and make sure any information that you do not want available to the public is either hidden or removed.”