A number of tribal and Afghan journalists and their families are facing severe problems due to frequent threats and attacks by unidentified militants.
Most of the tribal journalists have abandoned homes whereas the Afghan journalists are either giving up the profession or going underground for their lives.
According to data, around 98 journalists have been killed since 9/11 throughout Pakistan. Half of them belong to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjoining Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA). A few of Afghan journalists have also been shot dead in Peshawar and its surrounding areas.
Malik Mumtaz, reporter of a private TV channel, was targeted recently in North Waziristan Agency. His assassination caused panic among journalist from all over KP and FATA.
Journalists have been fleeing their hometowns since 2005 and dozens of them are living as refugees in Peshawar, Islamabad and other cities across the country. However, the displacement was intensified following assassination of Malik Mumtaz on February 27.
Afghan journalist Pir Reham Dil Shah, working for a Pashtu daily, had abandoned his home in January and shifted to an unidentified place. His family confirmed threats to Shah. They recalled that Shah was first threatened when the Taliban charged his Afghan colleague for spying for the US.
Several journalists from Peshawar, mostly associated with English newspapers and foreign media houses, are also under threat. These journalists do not show up at their offices and other public places and perform their duties from homes. It is worth mentioning that these journalists prefer to live in rented houses in military residential schemes as safety has become a serious problem for them in the civilian localities.
