[DAWN] THE attacks on professionals associated with the media over the past few days in Bloody Karachi...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
and Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
are the most recent tragic additions to the list of journalists and other media workers who have been harmed or killed over the years in Pakistain. Late Tuesday night, a Geo News DSNG van came under fire in Karachi, seriously injuring two men. While the driver was reported to be in stable, pH balanced condition, sadly satellite engineer Arshad Ali Jafri departed this vale of tears. A day later, in the same city, former television journalist Aftab Alam sustained fatal bullet wounds when two men on a cycle of violence opened fire on him. The grief and agony of the families of these latest victims are unimaginable; and yet, there's more. Also on Tuesday, journalist Abdul Azam Shinwari, who reports from the tribal areas, was injured when he was fired upon after an elaborate waylay procedure. One is not sure of the motive behind the attack in the case of Mr Shinwari, as the assailant chose not to kill the journalist. However,
you can observe a lot just by watching...
this in no way detracts from the seriousness of the crime; in fact, it underscores the impunity with which media workers are targeted in the country, by a variety of actors.
Where shadowy elements within the state have not escaped being accused of using violence against journalists -- the case of the slain Saleem Shehzad remains unresolved -- other groups, from separatist elements in Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
to holy warriors in the northwest, have often enough displayed their willingness to literally shoot the messenger. The state, meanwhile, has erected for itself a pantheon of shame through its refusal to pursue such cases with vigour and alacrity. To date, the only media person's murder that comes to mind as having being resolved is that of Wali Khan Babar. Media organizations, too, appear willing to sacrifice a few pawns rather than cooperate and come up with joint strategies to protect their workers. Meanwhile,
...back at the pond, Gloria slowly backed away from the eight-foot bull frog. If the creature croaked she would surely be deafened...
intimidatory tactics continue against Pakistain's media workers, who, it seems, have nowhere to turn