Day: December 30, 2020

BRUSSELS:,,, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has said in a report that Pakistan is among seven most dangerous countries for journalists during 2020 in the world.

According to an IFJ press release issued on Wednesday, the year 2020 will go down in history as the year of an unprecedented global pandemic crisis, but also as the year of the resurgence of murders of journalists and media staff around the world. With 60 murders in 2020, the macabre statistics are on the rise again compared to 2019 (49).

In its 2020 ranking per country, Mexico tops the list for the fourth time in five years with 14 killings, followed by India (8), Afghanistan (7), Pakistan (7), Philippines (4), Syria (4) while Iraq and Nigeria recorded 3 killings each. There were also two killings in Somalia. Finally, there was one journalist killed in Bangladesh, Cameroon, Colombia, Honduras, Paraguay, Russian, Sweden and Yemen.

As of 31 December 2020, the IFJ lists Asia Pacific as the most dangerous region with 27 killings, followed by Latin America with 17 murders. The Middle East and Arab World posted eight killings, followed by Africa (6) and Europe (2).

The year 2020 will go down in history as the year of an unprecedented global pandemic crisis, but also as the year of the resurgence of murders of journalists and media staff around the world. With 60 murders in 2020, the macabre statistics are on the rise again compared to 2019 (49).

IFJ records show that the current number of killings of media professionals are at the same levels as in 1990 when the IFJ started publishing annual reports on journalists and media staff killed, which show peaks of death tolls in the mid-nineties and mid-2000s.

Organized criminal cartels, extremists’ insurgencies and sectarian violence continue to strike terror among journalists, scores of who have paid the ultimate price for independent reporting in the four corners of the globe.

In this regard, 2020 has been no exception. The ruthless reign of crime barons in Mexico, the violence of extremists in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Somalia as well as the intolerance of hardliners in India and the Philippines have contributed to the continued bloodshed in media.

In particular, this year’s list features the killing of Russian journalist Irina Slavina, a case which perhaps exposed the level of despair and utter despondency in the face on unrelenting onslaught against media professionals. The Editor of Koza Press set herself on fire in the city of Nizhni-Novgorod to protest against the intimidation and harassment campaign to silence her. In the end, this led to her fatal act but not before she had blamed the authorities as bearing responsibility for her action.

“The trends in our publications over the last 30 years, but also in 2020, make it clear to all that there is no room for complacency. Instead, they are an urgent call to redouble our efforts to mobilize for greater protection of journalists and commitment to the safe practice of journalism”, said IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is the world’s largest organization of journalists. First established in 1926, it represents around 600,000 journalists in 187 unions and associations across 146 countries worldwide. You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our news updates.

ISLAMABAD:,,, President Dr Arif Alvi has said minorities especially Muslims are feeling isolated and scared in India.

Sharing a video of Saffron terrorists vandalizing a mosque in Madhya Pradesh on twitter on Wednesday, he said fascism under BJP regime is leading to saffronisation of Bharat.

ISLAMABAD:,,, Former President ICCI Shahid Rasheed Butt said in a statement on Wednesday said the outgoing year 2020 was very hard for masses and tough for almost all the sectors of the economy.

Masses faced unprecedented inflation, the industrial sector slowed down while the agriculture sector crumbled while the situation may not improve during the incoming year if the situation remained the same, he said.

Butt said that the agriculture sector faced locust attacks, pandemic, climate change, untimely rains, onslaught of mafia and questionable policies which hit millions of farmers and stoked the food crisis. He said that the promise of providing millions of jobs and other necessities remained unfulfilled while millions lost their jobs and businesses.

New records of inflation, food insecurity and high energy prices were made and masses were burdened by taxes while the elite enjoyed tax exemptions worth billions of rupees.

Wheat, cotton and maize crops failed due to a host of reasons including the lethargy of the department to produce good seeds and failure to contain seed and fertilizer mafia.

The cotton crop was worst affected which is a record in many decades but no plan was made to bring improvement in the agriculture sector which is more important than the industrial sector. Butt noted that provinces have not agreed on a single wheat support price and many issues are awaiting resolution which indicate a tough year ahead during which the import of food worth will continue.

ISLAMABAD:,,, Pakistan Navy on Wednesday conducted successful demonstration of missiles fire from surface to air.

The missiles successfully hit their targets. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi observed demonstration of the missiles firing.

Speaking on the occasion, the Naval Chief said the excellent demonstration of missiles firing speaks of Pakistan Navy’s operational capabilities and war preparations. He expressed satisfaction over Pakistan Navy’s operational preparedness.

Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi said Pakistan Navy is fully capable to give a befitting response to any aggression. He said the Jawans and officers of Pakistan Navy are ever ready to defend maritime boundaries of the country and the naval installations.

ISLAMABAD:,,, As many as 55 more people died of Coronavirus in the country during the last twenty-four hours.

According to the latest data shared by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 2,155 people tested Covid positive during this period after tests of 36,390 people.

The figure of active Covid cases in the country is 37,080 while 430,113 people have been recovered from the virus.

ISLAMABAD:,,, The Senate on Wednesday offered Fateha for the departed soul of late Senator Kalsoom Parveen, who died of COVID-19.

Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri led the Fateha. The House also offered Fateha for the departed soul of former Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali.

Senators expressed condolence over the sad demise of PML-N Senator Kalsoom Parveen, who died of COVID-19 recently. They were speaking on a condolence resolution moved by leader of the opposition Raja Zafar-ul-Haq in the Senate on Wednesday.

In his remarks, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said Senator Kalsoom Parveen, who was thrice elected to the Upper House, represented well the people of Balochistan. He said she was a mature and a visionary parliamentarian.

The Senators who paid tribute to the services of late Senator Kalsoom Parveen included Deputy Chairman Senate, Saleem Mandviwalla, Leader of the House Dr. Shahzad Waseem, Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan.

They prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and patience for the bereaved family. Later, the Chair adjourned the House till Friday at 10:30 am.