According to International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Pakistan turned out to be the most dangerous country for journalists in the year 2014, as 14 journalists and media workers were reportedly killed in the country in 2014 alone. While several others were threatened, attacked and intimidated.
The IFJ’s Asia Pacific acting director Jane Worthington in a statement said, “The situation in Pakistan has certainly become more miserable for journalists due to exemption from punishment of crimes against media workers. Pakistan must take immediate measures to curb the impunity culture from the country.” The IFJ also condemned the recent attack in Sialkot, on a television reporter and his wife on December 22, 2014.
It is not the first time for Pakistan to be in the top list of most dangerous countries for journalist. In the past years, the dreadful situation was more or less same for the journalists in the country. Pakistan is followed by Syria where 12 journalists were killed. Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq and Ukraine also hit the top ranking in the list.
The International Federation of Journalists is a Brussels-based organization which represents more than 600,000 journalists from 131 countries across the globe. IFJ believes itself as the largest body of journalists worldwide.