Pakistan is not an easy country for journalists. State agencies, non-state actors and political and criminal mafia repeatedly target them with impunity. For the past decade, Pakistan has been governed by semi-democratic regimes and the media have expanded but journalists continue to be intimidated and targeted.
The latest is Rana Tanveer, a seasoned reporter affiliated with the newspaper Express Tribune. He has been reporting, among other topics, on religious minorities and extremist groups that threaten, attack and sometimes kill Muslims and non-Muslims. His coverage of the Ahmadis – a minority sect outlawed by Pakistan’s Parliament – has not been received well by extremists who think Ahmadis are fit for murder.
For his fearless work, Tanveer is under attack. Today, I tweeted about the threats to Tanveer’s life. I hope the government takes adequate action and protects his freedom to report and more importantly his life.
1) #Journalist @RanaTanver who reports in ET on Pakistan’s religious minorities esp Ahmadis is being targeted. First his house vandalised pic.twitter.com/wnFk2YJtJI
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) June 9, 2017
#PT context:this hate message/death threat says @RanaTanver is a supporter of Qadianis(Ahmadis, a minority grp) is fit for murder #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/M48yLfUOyD
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) June 9, 2017
3) @RanaTanver reportedly asked the police for help but no concrete action taken so far. The authorities need to protect him #Pakistan
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) June 9, 2017
4) And death threats were not just ‘threats’, @RanaTanver was physically attacked today leaving him with a fracture. Pls act @CMShehbaz pic.twitter.com/2rFp6xTttJ
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) June 9, 2017
5)reporting/commenting on minorities esp beleaguered Ahmadi community is a hazard in #Pakistan. #Journalists are taught lessons @IamUmer1 pic.twitter.com/ytVcEn6BA2
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) June 9, 2017
6) Yes @RanaTanver not threatened by state or Intel agencies but non state hate groups have to be reined in by the state. Zero police action pic.twitter.com/ILWMpW5Z0M
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) June 9, 2017
7)bigots resent independent #journalism in #Pakistan as they have enjoyed state patronage in the past & their narrative rules in society
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) June 9, 2017
8) defending rights of Ahmadis, Shias in #Pakistan is difficult due to militant groups w/ power to raise violent mobs in the name of faith
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) June 9, 2017
9) even now I get messages: Are you Ahmadi? Are you a Shia? You must be an atheist? #FFS I am sick of declaring my faith as a daily routine
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) June 9, 2017
The government of Pakistan, media watchdogs and press associations need to make this into a test case. We need to save Tanveer and his right to report but also ensure that those who hurl threats are taken to task.
10) In short, @RanaTanver needs to be protected by govt of #Pakistan. His life & freedom to report are under threat. #Journalismisnotacrime pic.twitter.com/kQLf5mNlaA
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) June 9, 2017
Enough is enough.
