Journalists’ body expresses concern over Pakistani Taliban's threat to media

Pakistani journalists broadcast live news in Islamabad, Pakistan, on June 28, 2018. (AFP/File)

• TTP recently asked journalists not to call the faction a ‘terrorist outfit’ or be treated as ‘enemies’ by the group
• Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists said over 30 media workers had already been killed in militant attacks in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed concern over a recent threat made by the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) organization to the press, asking the government and media owners to take it seriously and take immediate steps to increase the security of journalists.
Earlier this week, TTP spokesman Mohammad Khurasani said the group had been tracking some media coverage in which it was described as a “terrorist outfit.” He warned the journalists not to force his faction to turn them into its “enemies.”
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, PFUJ President Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi expressed concern over the safety of journalists, particularly those working in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
“We have suggested that the media owners should be bound to provide life insurance to all their employees, particularly those working in the conflict areas,” the statement said. “Media owners should also provide safety gear to those working in conflict areas along with special training to deal with potentially hazardous situations.”
According to the PFUJ, militants have already killed over 30 journalists in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
The association of journalists also said in its statement it was time the government accepted all its recommendations in the proposed Journalists’ Safety and Protection Bill.
TTP came into being in 2007 and the government listed it as a proscribed entity in August 2008, following its targeted attacks on civilians.
In 2014, under the country’s National Action Plan against terrorism, the government also banned all offshoots of the group and barred the media from “glorifying” militant factions.