Joint statement of solidarity by senior Pakistani journalists against censorship, urging media unity against threats and attacks

Dozens of senior Pakistani journalists have signed a statement expressing unity and solidarity with each other in today’s divisive times. Many of us have associations with different companies, and we will not let ourselves be used against each other. Note: More endorsements are expected, but until they come in, given that it’s World Press Freedom Day, we thought it appropriate to share this now, and add more names later as they come in.

Joint statement of solidarity by senior Pakistani journalists against censorship, urging media unity against threats and attacks

To: The owners of all media companies, Pakistan:

From: Senior journalists associated with various Pakistani media companies

Through this joint statement, we the undersigned, express solidarity with the Pakistani media and working journalists, and stand against any proposed ban on any television or radio channel or newspaper.

We also urge the media owners to rise above their corporate interests and rivalries and work together against threats to and attacks upon journalists in Pakistan.

The shameful divisions in the Pakistani media are not only making journalists more vulnerable to attack and weakening our fight for justice, truth and democracy but also making us a spectacle for the world to see.

We urge the media owners/ companies to:

• Support written policies / codes of ethics for the journalism work of their companies incorporating best practices on ethical journalism.

• Promote policies and mechanisms that reduce the expanding margins of risks to the safety of journalists and discourage unnecessary risk taking that endanger lives in the absence of written guidelines

• Support efforts for appointment of special prosecutor(s), at the federal and provincial levels, along with necessary resources, dedicated to investigating and prosecuting cases of threats against media houses and attacks against journalists

• Unite in support of any journalist who is attacked or threatened, as if he or she is one of their own, even if associated with a rival company.

Endorsed (alphabetically):

1. Absar Alam, Aaj News; formerly Special Correspondent/Deputy Editor, The Nation
2. Adnan Farooq,co-editor, Viewpoint Online
3. Afia Salam, freelance journalist; formerly with Dawn, Star, The Cricketer, Newsline, Aurora, Slogan
4. Ahfaz ur Rahman, Magazine Editor, daily Express, former President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ)
5. Ahmad Waleed, Controller News, Samaa TV
6. Anwer Sen Roy, BBC World Service (Urdu) London
7. Asma Shirazi, senior anchor, analyst Dawn News Islamabad, formerly with Geo, Samaa, ARY
8. Alefia T. Hussain, Consulting Editor, The News on Sunday
9. Amar Sindhu, freelance writer, columnist, Kawish
10. Asad Hashim, Web Correspondent, Al Jazeera English
11. Asha’ar Rehman, Resident Editor Lahore, Dawn
12. Ayesha Siddiqa, freelance columnist, analyst
13. Babar Ayaz, Journalist and Author
14. Babar Sattar, Columnist, Dawn (formerly at The News); Co-host Siasat Aur Qanoon, Express TV
15. Badar Alam, Editor, The Herald, Dawn group
16. Bahzad Alam Khan, Editor, Metro & South, Dawn
17. Beena Sarwar, Editor Aman ki Asha, Jang Group, formerly with Star, The Frontier Post
18. Bina Shah, writer and columnist
19. Farah Zia, Editor, The News on Sunday
20. Farooq Sulehria, co-editor, Viewpoint Online
21. Farrukh Khan Pitafi, PTV anchor, columnist for Express Tribune, Rozanama Dunya
22. Husain Naqi, former editor The News Lahore, Sajjan (Punjabi)
23. I. A. Rehman, freelance contributor, former editor Pakistan Times
24. Javed Soomro, Senior Broadcast Journalist BBC Urdu TV, formerly with The News, Friday Times
25. Jugnu Mohsin, Publisher & Managing Editor, The Friday Times
26. Kamran Rehmat, Columnist; former Editor, The News; Res. Editor, Express Tribune; News Editor, Dawn News; Political Analyst Al Jazeera Online
27. Kamran Shafi, columnist, Express Tribune, formerly Dawn, News
28. Khalid Chaudhry, freelance journalist; formerly Editor Daily Aajkal, Chief editor Daily Musawaat, editor daily Nia Akhbar
29. Khurram Husain, freelance journalist, columnist, Dawn, formerly Express Tribune
30. Kiran Nazish, Journalist, currently at The New York Times
31. Malik Siraj Akbar, Editor-in-chief The Baloch Hal; former Bureau Chief Balochistan, Daily Times
32. Marvi Sirmed, columnist, The Nation
33. Masood Ashar  writer, columnist  Daily Jang; Editor Mashal Books, former Editor Daily Imroze
34. Mazhar Abbas, former secretary general, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ)
35. Mehmal Sarfraz, Deputy Secretary General, SAFMA
36. Mohammad Taqi, columnist, Daily Times
37. Mosharraf Zaidi, Columnist, The News
38. Muneeb Farooq, Senior Anchor, Geo
39. Murtaza Solangi, journalist, former Director General, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation
40. Najam Sethi, Editor, The Friday Times
41. Nasim Zehra, Anchor/Columnist, Capital TV; formerly with Dunya TV, News, Nation
42. Nasir Jamal, Chief Reporter, Dawn Newspaper
43. Naziha Syed Ali, assistant editor, Dawn, former assistant editor, Newsline
44. Omar R. Qureshi, Op-ed Editor Express Tribune; formerly with Dawn, The News
45. Owais Tohid, freelancer, former: Exec. Director Dunya, Dir. News Geo English, Sr Exec. Director ARY
46. Raza Rumi, Consulting Editor, The Friday Times
47. Sabir Nazar, Editorial cartoonist, The Friday Times, Express Tribune
48. Sahar Ali, blogger, columnist, formerly with Panos South Asia
49. Sahar Habib Ghazi, Deputy Editor Global Voices
50. Sana Saleem, blogger, Director, Bolo Bhi
51. Shaheen Qureshi, Group Editor Coordination, Jang Group
52. Sirmed Manzoor, Gen. Sec. SAFMA – Pakistan; freelance columnist;  formerly with The News and The Frontier Post
53. Talat Aslam, Senior Editor, The News, formerly with The Herald
54. Zaman Khan, columnist, Mashriq, former bureau chief Faisalabad, The Frontier Post
55. Zarrar Khuhro, Assistant Editor (magazines), Dawn Media Group
56. Zubeida Mustafa, Columnist, Pakistan Herald Publications Ltd